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Description: In this issue of The Outpost Magazine, you will find a special bird hunting section, getting your gun and yourself ready for the hunting season, Chasing Rumor...a trip to Patagonia, Julie McQueen and husband Daniel Lee Martin, artist Jason Mathias, Hunting for your dream job, catching bass, NRA women's awards, Gear, Recipes, music and much more

GEAR MUSIC RECIPES DOVE HUNTING CHASING RUMOR BROTHERHOOD OUTDOORS GETTING YOUR GUN READY OUTDOOR ARTIST JASON MATHIAS HUNTING YOUR DREAM JOB NRA WOMEN S AWARDS BASS FISHING WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 1 ING COMBO AYS A WINN ALW PARTIES & Made with 100% Real Cheese AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RESTAURANT STYLE 1.00 COUPON CLICK HERE 2 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM www.gordoscheesedip.com VEC TOR B U T TON S. COM http youtu.be 5MveCGisXgg 3 LL FA NZY FRE 4 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM TABLE OF CONTENTS JASON MATHIAS 12 28 CATCHING BASS 30 HUNTING FOR A DREAM JOB 32 YELLOW STONE GRIZZLY ATTACK HOW TO CLEAN A DOVE 42 CAN T GET ENOUGH OF THE OUTPOST 10 PADDLESPORTS IDAHO WILDERNES BILL NRA WOMEN S AWARD GEAR 46 GETTING YOUR 64 SHOTGUN READY RECIPES 72 66 68 77 EVERY TRAIL CONNECTS ALABAMA GATOR ON POINT LEGAL CORNER 80 O NEILL OUTSIDE THE BOX 91 94 100 PHOTO OF THE MONTH THE OUTPOST MUSIC 84 108 BACK WOODS CLICK HERE 5 FEATURE STORIES GOODBYE SUMMER HELLO BIRD SEASON CHASING RUMOR Most fly fishermen have dreamed of going to the land of the 20 pound trout the Patagonia region of South America. Seattle fire fighter angler and author Cameron Chamber did more than just dream about it he packed up and moved there. His experience resulted in one of the best books on fly fishing ever written. PAGE 19 Julie McQueen and Daniel Lee Martin Here s a mantra outdoor sports fanatics can live by hunt fish sing repeat Those are words the husband and wife team of Daniel Lee Martin and Julie McQueen live by in their work and play. They are the producers and hosts of the popular outdoor sports show Brotherhood Outdoors on the Sportsman Channel but that s just a small portion of the way they spend their time. PAGE 50 Depending on what part of the country you live in dove and early teal season has either started or is about to. Both of these winged warriors are stealthy speed-demons and just when you think you have that shotgun swinging the way it s supposed to they shift into another gear and you shoot where they ain t PAGE 36 6 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Proud to be an American Show your patriotic pride in our 2nd Amendment and Flag Tanks Save Big on GWG Apparel Get 15% off your order when you enter code OUTPOST15 Offer online only at www.gwgclothing.com Also available at fine retailers Be ready for life s adventure in style gwgclothing.com WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 7 FIELD NOTES FROM OUTPOST READERS I just joined The Outpost Club and excited for the opportunity to win. Just make sure you draw my name for the big hunts Love the magazine. Keep up the good work. Phil Fayetteville AR Brilliant I like your magazine and I am now listening to a podcast. Been listening to about 6 interviews with women hunters and fishers. So well done Love the way you Americans Speak. Enthusiastic Can I listen to the Radio in New Zealand Michael Sloan New Zealand Oh Yeah I m finally on the cover of the magazine Roy South Georgia Surf Fishing This is great Thanks so much for sharing Maya Loving everything about The Outpost website. Everyone should follow them Chris THE OUTPOST The Outpost Media Group LLC 770-675-7200 Jason Martin Partner Art Young Editor in Chief Phil Hall The Outpost Radio Bill Young Sales Contributing Writers Art Young Jason Martin O Neill Williams Photo Credits IL DNR Jason Martin Flickr Commons O Neill Williams Mike Dunn Art Young Greg Thompson Eva Shockey Gary Mann Leslie Hendley Jason Mathias Cameron Chamber Ryan Lovelace Summer Ketchum Kirk Driscoll Jeff Byrd Michael Waters Julie McQueen Daniel Martin Brenda Potts Allie Armstrong Poot McFarlin Steel Drivers PR Chris Stapleton THE OUTPOST is produced and copyrighted 2015 by The Outpost Media Group Reproduction in whole or part without permission is expressly forbidden. 8 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Editor s Letter are not in trouble because of responsible sport hunting. In fact evidence shows that scientifically sound conservation programs that include limited well-managed sport hunting can and do contribute to the long-term survival of the species. The agency found that the major threats to lions were not numb-nut dentists but rather habitat destruction declines on the animals they prey on and increased conflicts between humans and lions. The role that these humans play in these conflicts is interesting to ponder. For Africans who lose crops and livestock to wild animals these lions are a liability to be avoided or killed. In Kenya biologists estimate that each lion eats 270 worth of livestock per year. In a country where the per capita income is 1 200 this is a serious economic hardship for subsistence farmers. I ve never been much of a trophy hunter. I don t have any stuffed animal heads ducks or fish on the walls. But then I m not much of an opera lover either. Probably because I don t understand it. My hunting and fishing are focused on putting meat and fish in the freezer and having a great excuse to get out among the wild animals birds and fish and watch what kind of crazy stuff they do. Plus I love the taste of wild game venison duck quail dove flounder and even that nasty looking feral hog which tastes great when it is cleaned and prepared correctly. It doesn t bother me a bit that many of my friends have spent small fortunes on taxidermy for their trophy kills. Some of them are pretty cool. Of course some of them are disasters and there s nothing worse than taxidermy gone BAD The trophy phenomenon is just not my thang. Which brings us to the dentist who killed Cecil the pet lion in Zimbabwe. While I have never met this gentleman from my distant perspective he appears to be a few bricks short of a load. Most likely he is not the kind of guy either you or I would enjoy hunting with because he seems like the kind of guy who would do something really dumb and maybe get us killed. His killing of this lion has needlessly tarnished the role that wellmanaged legal hunting can play. Three U.S. airline have announced they will no longer transport big-game animals and the anti-hunting crowd is throwing a hissy fit demanding the cessation of trophy hunting throughout the African continent. Even a U.S. Senator Robert Menendez who knows a good headline when he sees it has proposed a ban on import or export of animals being included in the U. S. Endangered Species Act. It s no coincidence that the Fish & Wildlife are considering listing the African lion in this group. But wait. What do the scientists at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife think about banning trophy hunting The agency s director said Lions If licensed hunts for these lions or other wild animals put money in the pockets of the local folks then the animals are not a nuisance but rather a cash cow or antelope or lion. Licensed hunts for wild game in Africa provide incentives for the local citizens to protect lions and their habitat. Hunters and anglers come in a wide range of philosophies. Some want trophies some don t. Some dig opera and some rock n roll. We all have different reasons for pursuing wild game but the overwhelming majority are hyper-aware of the necessity for conservation in our pursuits. There s no controversy about this issue of The Outpost. It s all good. We have our annual bird season kick off that will help you get your limit. We introduce you to Cam Chambers Seattle firefighter and Patagonia fly fisherman Jason Mathias marine artist extraordinaire the husband wife duo who host and produce Brotherhood Outdoors Julie McQueen and Daniel Lee Martin Brenda Potts and Alli Armstrong who will give you tips on Hunting Your Dream Job and a whole bunch more. Please shoot us an email sometime and tell us what you would like to see in these pages. We answer every email. Later Art Young Editor The Outpost Follow us on Facebook And Twitter Outpostart email me at art theoutpostmagazine.com 9 MORE AND MORE MEET ARE TAKING UP THE REBECCA PADDLESPORTS WOLFE SPRADLEY 10 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Maybe you ve noticed. There seem to be quite a few aphorisms about paddling. There s paddle your own canoe and up a creek without a paddle just to mention two. Now there s news that paddlesports are taking off. Paddle participation reached an all-time high in 2014. The Outdoor Foundation and The Coleman Company Inc. released the Special Report on Paddlesports which provides a detailed look at participation in kayaking canoeing rafting and stand up paddling. Among other findings the report reveals that 21.7 million Americans 7.4 percent of the population enjoyed paddling on rivers lakes streams and other waterways in 2014. Overall all segments of paddle are on the rise again setting the record for the number of participants with a three million increase since the study began in 2010. Paddlers averaged seven annual outings in 2014 up from 6.8 the year before. Collectively paddling participants made nearly 216 million outings. A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS Paddlesports are increasing in popularity among Americans who desire to connect with the outdoors said Christine Fanning executive director of The Outdoor Foundation. Despite the increase in popularity there remains growth opportunity especially among minorities which are significantly underrepresented in the sport. The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Through groundbreaking research youth engagement and charitable investment the Foundation works with partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. The Outdoor Foundation s Special Report on Paddlesports helps the outdoor industry public agencies and community organizations better understand the trends in paddling. The report uses the latest participation data collected annually by the Outdoor Foundation to present detailed information on participation in kayaking canoeing rafting and stand up paddling by gender age ethnicity income education geographic region and more. We re excited by the continued growth in the paddlesports industry. It shows a bright future for our quality Sevylor products from our inflatable SUPs to our boats kayaks and canoes said Robert F. Marcovitch President and CEO of Coleman. The Special Report on Paddlesports is an invaluable tool for us to further refine our product offerings and for retailers to plan their paddlesports purchases. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 11 The Amazing Underwater Vision of Artist Jason Mathias I ve always been drawing. I remember drawing since as far back as I can remember The ability to realistically capture the stunning beauty of marine life on canvas is a remarkable feat. And Florida painter Jason Mathias excels at this art. We noticed the work of this amazing artist as we were walking the aisles of the ICAST Sports Fishing Show on Orlando in July. Jason s work is amazingly detailed - especially the underwater light and the composition of the fish. How does he capture this look It s a process and it s kind of a science he said. I ve spent lots and lots of hours underwater studying light how the light works how it refracts through the water and through the surface and basically applying that to canvas takes quite a few steps. 12 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM The first thing I do is I try to plan out the composition the basic design of all the elements and of what s in the painting. There s certain rules that you can follow to help you come up with a good composition but you want to have it look natural. Once I plan that out correctly I start working on the details of the drawing. Just to get everything kind of pre-figured out before I really jump into the painting process. As far as all the different light reflections detail and color variation I kind of produce that with lots of different layers working with different edges between soft edges sharp edges value contrast and color contrast. That kind of just a quick gist of how I approach that he said. The Outpost It s amazingly scientific and results in a stunning effect. Do you put under water cameras in the water Is that how you start getting to learning about the light Jason Mathias I just use a GoPro because I don t need all of the intense detail in a photo. I just need something general to look at for an idea. A lot of details and the color and the color contrast that I put into my artwork basically come from my head using color theory. Just different ideas about color what s color how it s used and what colors to put next to each other to make it shimmer to make it the effect on your eye to make the colors shimmer. These are all different kinds of color theory tricks that I ll use that aren t in a photo that I m looking at or a video. In terms of the look does one ocean look different from another ocean From the surface I think it kind of can but underwater conditions can change. The oceans are very big and one condition in one ocean can look very similar to a condition in another ocean but they have different species within the different oceans especially on the reefs and such. But for the pelagic species not so much because they travel long distances. When did you first get interested in painting marine life I ve always been drawing. I remember drawing since as far back as I can remember. My grandfather was a charter captain out of Jupiter Inlet (Florida) and I decided to go offshore fishing with him ever since I was a little kid. Then my dad was a big inside fisherman and I d fish with him in the coastal far back as I can remember. They had some underwater art in the house growing up so I was surrounded by the whole culture and the ocean and even other marine art as a kid. So naturally that is one of the subject matters that I would draw while I was a kid and then it just elevated from there. Do you still enjoy salt water fishing Yeah. I like to pursue red fish trout for the inside. And then offshore mahi sailfish marlin tuna and even spear fishing for hog fish is fun too. Do the fish that you like to paint line up with the fish you like to pursue Do you have a preference on the type of fish you like to paint It really doesn t make that much of a difference. Just because as what interest me about it is the underwater environment. It s such a completely different world. The lighting is completely different. The atmosphere is WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 13 14 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM completely different. Everything is different and it s really fun for me to paint an underwater scene no matter really what the subject matter is because I can have fun with it just playing with the lighting of the atmosphere perspectives. Clear water good visibility - like a 100 feet - like wow that s really clear but if it was 100 feet visibility above the water that would be incredibly foggy and hazy [chuckles]. But it creates a really interesting environment to paint from because there s a lot of depth even from things that are right in your face. You started doing murals. Do you still do those Very occasionally. The past seven or eight years I ve been very busy with just busting out commission paintings and doing different commercial illustration works and things of that nature. I m pretty busy as it is but if a good mural opportunity came along yeah I would take it. With these amazing images you have quite a few licensed products which use your images. Is this an important part of your business Yes. It s important. It s another way to get your arts out there and seen especially by the general public. I find that the more places that your art can be the better it is. And it s good for me too because the more people who see it the more people who are aware about it become interested in marine art and that s a great thing to me. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 15 16 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Where can someone buy your original pieces or your prints It s best to go to my website but I do sell some of the prints to some distributors who sell them to various galleries around Florida. I think Tackle Direct has the phone cases now and the art prints on their website so you can get them from there as well. And Shallow Fish is another website where you can get the prints. We just did some phone cases with Flying Fisherman Bass Pro Shops carry my artwork with shirts on the World Wide Sportsman brand. And they had my art prints down at the World Wide Sportsman as well in the Keys-- but there s just lots of different places probably where you can find my work. The CCA the IGFA those are just a few. The typical tale about artists is that their fame begins long after they re dead and gone and yet here you are a successful artist painting the subject matter you clearly love. So what advice can you give another artist maybe a younger artist who wants to pursue their dream Well first of all you have to be passionate about what you do because if you re not passionate about it you re probably not going to succeed. The first thing that you want to do is really practice and practice and hone your skills and try and learn as much as you can within the arts. And once you start building up a big enough portfolio and you want to seriously start thinking about doing this as a career you really have to think about it as a business. You want to get it out there to as many people as possible because that s how you make a living. You can be the best artist in the world but if nobody sees it and nobody even knows about you it s not going to help you. Where can someone purchase your art You can see the amazing art of Jason Mathias at his website http stores.jasonmathias.com If you would like to listen to this interview click here http theoutpostlife.com pod_popup1584.html for The Outpost ON DEMAND. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 17 18 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM chasing rumor pursing the monster trout of patagonia WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 19 FLY FISHERMAN AND AUTHOR CAMERON CHAMBERS EXPLAINS Most fly fishermen have dreamed of going to the land of the 20 pound trout the Patagonia region of South America. Seattle fire fighter angler and author Cameron Chamber did more than just dream about it he packed up and moved there. His experience resulted in one of the best books on fly fishing ever written. The book is entitled Chasing Rumor A Season Fly Fishing Patagonia. What is the significance of this title You know I danced around with a couple different variations of titles for a couple years as I was writing it and one day just on a whim I happened upon Chasing Rumor in my brain and it just seemed to really fit the essence of the journey in the book. I knew that that was it. The basis for the book was I was down guiding in Chile was a little bit frustrated by the lack of fishing that I was having and some other issues that you can read about in Chapter One. I ended up talking to all these people -- other local guides and travelers that were coming through on fishing journeys of their own -- just started collecting their stories about these mythical-sounding places around Patagonia in this journal I had. So the journey of the book is really based on going back down on my own terms and chasing down all these rumors that I d collected. In the course of doing so I collected a whole bunch more. So that s really the idea behind the book it s just chasing rumors of big fish and wonderful places. The Outpost So everyone can get a lay of the land where exactly is Patagonia Cameron Chambers Patagonia is a geographical location similar to say the West Coast. Politically speaking it encompasses the lower third of Argentina and Chile running the spine of the Andes Mountains from the Pacific side and all the way over to the Atlantic side in far Southern Argentina. But a very large area geographically as is the West Coast of the United States with as many different rivers and different native populations as you would expect to see in the Western United States. So you went to the area to experience the fishing utopia you had in your mind a cornucopia of 20-pound trout under rushing water. How did all that work out 20 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 21 Not like I expected [laughter]. As fly-fishermen or fishermen in general we re fed a storyline by popular media from the news stand fly-fishing magazines to fly-fishing-film tours that paint Patagonia as this utopia as you said where you re just going to go down and every catch you re going to catch a huge fish. It did not take me very long fishing down there to realize that it s an area. It s a region just like everywhere else. You can go to Montana any time of the year and have a great fishing experience or you can go there and experience high water flood conditions in the spring low water drought conditions in the summer or windy days whatever it is and that never entered my vision of Patagonia until I got down there. The first six weeks was very high spring-like conditions. Then there s the persistent wind of Patagonia. It took me a couple months of adjusting my expectations that Hey this is a place just like anywhere else on Earth. It s subject to these factors of Mother Nature. Once I started appreciating that I could take a little bit more realistic approach to the fishing down there and slowly start learning about the fisheries as you have to do anywhere so that I knew where to fish when to fish that place the patterns that work there. Now I can go down there with more knowledge and do quite successful fishing but initially there s a very steep learning curve. Does this area have native trout species or did somebody bring them in from other places It s a great story about fishing Patagonia in general. Trout are really only native to the Northern Hemisphere - rainbow trout brook trout North America Brown trout and to Europe. So really anywhere else that we find them they d been introduced generally by European settlers. In Argentina trout were introduced in 1904. The Argentine government asked an American Fisheries biologist named John Titcombe to come down to the Northern Patagonia region and see about the feasibility of introducing fish to the area just because the fish that existed there were fairly small in population and not really considered a sport fish. 22 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 23 He found the cold plain waters of Northern Patagonia to be excellent for trout and started organizing to have the first shipment of white fish eggs and salmon eggs come down to 1904. He then a second shipment included rainbow trout eggs. So this happened in 1904 and then there were years and years and years where nobody was fishing them right Yeah that s exactly right. What allowed that to occur was a blip of prosperity in the Argentine economy. They re a large beef exporter to Europe so their economy was doing really well. They had money to spend on public works projects including stocking fish in the remote regions of their country. And that lasted about three years until they had a crash of the economy and focused their financial efforts elsewhere. Then for about three to four decades fish were really just left untouched in the wilds of Patagonia. There wasn t really much of a population to speak of certainly no sport fishing industry. They were just left to evolve and develop into their new habitat or to perish. Of all the species that were introduced about seven in total - the trout species rainbows browns and brook trout - seem to take hold and really thrive. Today they re found really in almost all fresh water waterways in the Patagonia regions. 24 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 25 someday somewhere anywhere unfailingly you ll find yourself. and that and only that can be the happiest or bittersweet hour of your life. -Pablo Neruda 26 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM The characters in this book are worth the price of admission I think. I don t know what it is about fly fishing or maybe it s the area you were in or both that brings out such colorful people. Yeah it s certainly the case. I think it s true of the fly fishermen the world over. They re just a unique brand of people. Generally very well-grounded and just have a good sense of life and living a quality life. We talked about the learning curve for fishing and where and when to fish but almost as important for me was the realization that fishing with people is a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling than fishing by myself. It really became a mission of mine to track down some of these local characters if you will and the guys like Richard Harris who is one of the first guides in the Bariloche region and Jorge Truco who really brought the commercial guiding to where it is today. So tracking down guys like these and getting to share fishing experiences with them and really getting a firsthand account of how the fly fishing industry has developed down there and the changes to the rivers and laws regarding it and the ecosystems is fascinating. I think one of the highlights writing the book was to get to recount these individual stories and bring the fishing in Patagonia to life through their eyes. Tell us about yourself Cam. Where do you live in the United States and what do you do when you re not out chasing monster trout and writing about them Sure. I grew up in Montana. My family was a fly fishing family and I got started with that fairly early - became a passion. I now live in Seattle and I work for the Seattle Fire Department. I just love to be outside. So traveling chasing fish or just finding a great beach somewhere or a great hike is great. Just getting outside I think for me is one of the things that really fills up my soul. I think one of the things that attracts me most to fishing is just the locations that it has taken me and allows me to have an excuse to go. One of my favorite poets is from this area - Pablo Neruda. I have a quote from him that I want to share with you. Someday somewhere anywhere unfailingly you ll find yourself. And that and only that can be the happiest or bittersweet hour of your life. I wonder Cam is Patagonia where you found yourself What a great question. I think Patagonia definitely was a place where I d found my adventurer. I brought a lot of skills that I learned growing up fishing in Montana and a passion for fly fishing down there. But I think being in that foreign environment and something similar with the fish and the landscape but yet something so foreign with language and location really forced me to bring those two together and find myself as an angler and an adventure angler. And ultimately as a writer as well. So I would say yes Patagonia has been kind of a location of epiphany for me. If you would like to listen to this interview click here http theoutpostlife.com pod_popup1583.html for The Outpost ON DEMAND. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 27 THE OUTPOST CONSERVATION IDAHO WILDERNESS BILL PASSES SENATE NEXT STOP THE PRESIDENT S DESK In a move long supported by sportsmen the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to designate as wilderness 275 000-plus acres of prime biggame habitat and fisheries in Idaho s BoulderWhite Clouds region. The Senate legislation introduced by Sen. James Risch of Idaho forms a companion bill to a House measure championed by Rep. Mike Simpson also of Idaho. The House voted to advance Simpson s bill last week. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) which has consistently pushed for legislation safeguarding Boulder-White Clouds commended the Idaho s delegation s leadership and praised Congress for taking action. HIGH FIVE A big backcountry high five to Senator Risch and Congressman Simpson for conserving one of the most iconic parts of Idaho said BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. For years hunters and anglers have been working to secure the future of the Boulder-White Clouds. Getting this legislation over the finish line proves that boots-on-the-ground solutions really do work. BHA members both in Idaho and elsewhere access the Boulder-White Clouds for hunting fishing and other activities and BHA has historically supported conservation of the region. Derrick Reeves co-chair of BHA s Idaho chapter welcomed the news of the bill s passage. The collaborative effort required to move this bill forward provides a road map for Idahoans to craft local solutions benefiting sportsmen public lands water and wildlife - in landscapes that have provided outdoor opportunities for Idahoans in the past and will continue to do so in the future said Reeves a resident of Deary. The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers commends Representative Simpson and Senator Risch for their commitment to conserving the Boulder-White Clouds region. Ian Malepeai co-chair of the Idaho chapter emphasized the importance of the Boulder-White Clouds to Idahoans. When I was growing up my family relied on the Boulder White-Clouds region for our time afield said Malepeai who now lives with his own family in Boise. Generations of Idahoans continue to access this quintessentially Western landscape for hunting fishing hiking and simple solitude. The fact that its conservation has resulted from a collaborative grassroots movement by folks who appreciate and value all that it offers gives me hope for my kids and grandkids - and moves me to offer thanks to our elected officials for their commitment to Idaho s outdoor traditions. In the Interior Columbia River Basin of Idaho 60 percent of the most productive trout and salmon habitat 85 percent of the healthiest populations of all western cutthroat trout species and 76 percent of the remaining healthy populations of bull trout are found in roadless areas. Idaho s backcountry lands comprise one of the state s most valuable natural assets. 28 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 29 DO YOU WANT TO CATCH BASS IN THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER 30 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM HERE S HOW By Ryan Lovelace All across the southern states this time of year most states are gripped tight by high pressure and extreme heat. Often during this time of year a bass angler has two options one you can stay out in deeper water which is pretty standard operating procedure or two do something counterintuitive. Here s the problem with the deep-water strategy. Often this time a year deep of water may not have the oxygen concentration that provide healthy conditions for fish. So where do you start looking for fish when it s extremely hot My favorite area are in the 14 to 12 foot foot range. An area that has a couple of different depth drops this can be subtle drops from 7 to 9 foot drop or a 10 to 14 foot drop is ideal. Look for brush piles near these drops. This creates a perfect ambush spot for bass as they are moving from one depth to another throughout the day and relating to what the bait fish are doing. NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT The second option an angler has is to pull the trolling motor up and get in the skinny skinny water Many anglers will miss this bite. It s 105 outside so why in the world would a bass be in a foot of water In a word Oxygen. On some lakes the best chance during August and extreme heat for oxygen to be added to the water table is the very shallow depths 3 foot to 1 foot deep. Wave action a quick rain or grass vegetation can provide this oxygen to bass. Buzz baits early work well and this is the time of year pink plastics also are effective. Pink soft jerk bait can really catch some good fish this time of year. I can t tell you why the pink works but it does so don t be afraid to try it. As we enter September and are waiting for those first few cool fronts to come through fish will start changing their feeding habits. Look for big gizzard shad into the fall. Bass will follow these bigger shad and feed up for the winter. Until Next time...Good luck and Good Fishing. Ryan Lovelace is a pro bass fisherman and high school biology teacher who lives in Denison Texas. If you have questions about bass fishing cast him a line via email. Info theoutpostlife.com WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 31 YELLOWSTONE GRIZZL BEAR Y KILLS HIKER HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THIS TYPE OF ATTACK Anyone who is under the misguided impression that grizzly bears are not predators should pay special attention to this piece. While it s true that most bears want to stay as far away as possible from humans it doesn t always work out that way. When this happens the results can be deadly. After Yellowstone park rangers reported the discovery of the body of a 63-yearold hiker in the vicinity of Elephant Back Loop Trail near Lake Village further evidence tied his death to a bear attack. Park officials confirmed the man s identity as Lance Crosby of Billings Montana a seasoned hiker. 32 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Crosby previously lived in Yellowstone and worked with several of the park s medical clinics in the past. An examination of his body and the surrounding area suggested that he was attacked by at least one grizzly bear and was carried off to be consumed a sign that points to the attack being predatory rather than defensive in nature. A GRUESOME DISCOVERY According to a press release park officials said His body was found partially consumed and cached or covered and partial tracks at the scene indicate that an adult female grizzly and at least one cub-of-the-year were present and likely involved in the attack. While the exact cause of death has not been determined investigators have identified what appear to be defensive wounds on Crosby s forearms. DNA evidence was recovered at the scene and will be used to help identify the bear s involved. Park biologists set traps in the area after recovering the body on Friday and managed to capture one adult female grizzly. Officials say they will test the bear to see if it matches the evidence left on the scene but will continue to trap more bears in the area if possible. Any bears involved in the attack will be euthanized. The decision to euthanize a bear is one that we do not take lightly. As park managers we are constantly working to strike a balance between the preservation of park resources and the safety of our park visitors and employees said Dan Wenk superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Our decision is based on the totality of the circumstances in this unfortunate event. Yellowstone has had a grizzly bear management program since 1983. The primary goals of this program are to minimize bear-human interactions prevent human-caused displacement of bears from prime food sources and to decrease the risk of bear-caused human injuries. The Associated Press reports that since 2010 six people have died in the greater Yellowstone area as a result of a bear attack. Experts urge visitors to stay in groups keep on trails make a lot of noise while they move and to carry bear spray. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with the loss of someone who loved Yellowstone so very much Wenk said. The area where the attack occurred has been closed off to visitors until further notice. WHAT TO DO IF YOU RE CONFRONTED BY A GRIZZLY BEAR This tragedy in Yellowstone National park should be a wake-up call to every outdoorsmen and women. What would you do if confronted by a grizzly bear According to experts at Glacier National Park here are some things to do when one is confronted by a grizzly bear in the wild. They add It is worth noting that bears are wild creatures and thus do not behave predictably. In other words caveat emptor on these tips. NEVER RUN AWAY If you encounter a grizzly bear on a hiking trail don t run. This action will trigger the grizzly bear s chase response and the average person can only run about 15 miles per hour and the grizzly bear can hit speeds of 40 miles per hour. WHAT MOOD IS HE IN Even in this emergency situation experts strongly recommend that one notices how the bear looks and how it reacts to your presence. If his ears are back he is likely angry. On the other hand does the bear stand up on its rear legs or perk its ears up If so that is good news as you only have a curious bear on your hands. For curious grizzly bears doing nothing at all might be the best tactic. This means don t approach the bear but don t run away or even back away from it. Instead just stand there and see what the bear does doing your best to show absolutely no fear at all. If those ears are laid back that suggests an aggressive bear. Experts highly recommended backing away from the bear. Thus when confronted by an aggressive grizzly bear attempt to slowly retreat away never turning your back to the bear and also avoiding eye contact if possible. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 33 WHAT IF THE AGGRESSIVE BEAR CHARGES ANYWAY The experts suggest that you drop something not food on the trail between you and your charging grizzly bear. Frequently the grizzly bear will stop to investigate what you just dropped on the trail. A second method is to just drop and play dead. Needless to say it takes serious courage to remain perfectly motionless and quiet when a grizzly bear is handling you in a physical and painful way. A third method is to hold your ground. Many if not most grizzly bear charges are bluff charges. They are charging you to get you to run away or to get you to react. By holding your ground and hiding all fear the grizzly bear is likely to stop their charge - sometimes just a few feet away. A fourth method is to climb a tree. The challenge of this tactic lies in the fact that the right tree needs to be handy nearby and within easy reach. A fifth method is to simply get off the trail. Many times the grizzly bear is not entirely upset at you as much as that you are on the trail. 34 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM MEANWHILE... IN OTHER BEAR NEWS. ALASKAN OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR MAN IN BEAR COSTUME HARASSING BEARS Alaskan wildlife officials say they are now searching for a man who showed up to Chilkoot River near Haines in a bear suit and began harassing the bears who were feeding at the time. THE BEST WEAPON FOR BEAR ATTACK Anyone with any kind of weapon gun bow even knife when confronted by an aggressive grizzly bear would be tempted to fight off a charging bear with these. Unfortunately the accuracy of the shot the caliber of the gun and any number of other factors make this a risky approach. Experts suggest that the best weapon for this emergency is bear spray. This concoction is basically a much larger and more potent mix of the pepper spray that police officers use. The goal with bear spray is to spray it at a charging bear hitting them in the face. There are some limitations to bear spray (1) the wind could be blowing towards you causing the noxious spray to cover your face and eyes and not the bears (2) the spray range is about 20 feet in normal weather so this must be taken into consideration. Having a can of bear spray in a backpack is the best weapon for dealing with this potentially deadly situation. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 35 According to news wire services a sow and two cubs along with other bears were feeding in the river when the man approached them. In the presence of a crowd that had gathered to watch the bears catch salmon the costumed man started jumping and waving his hands and got as close as five feet of the animals before wildlife officials drove the bears away for his own protection. Alaska Fish and Game technician Lou Cenicola was counting fish at the time when the man started approaching the bears. Fearing for the man s safety Cenicola scared away the bears and confronted the costumed visitor. When Cenicola informed him that he was harassing wildlife the man refused to identify himself and instead dared officials to track him down. You have the license plate number. You figure it out he said before driving off. It was not reported if alcohol was involved in this bear costume caper. G O O D B Y E S U M M E R HELLO B I R D S E A S O N Dove and Early Teal Season Provide the Cure for the Summertime Blues Depending on what part of the country you live in dove and early teal season has either started or is about to. Both of these winged warriors are stealthy speed-demons and just when you think you have that shotgun swinging the way it s supposed to they shift into another gear and you shoot where they ain t As we do every year we want to join in the celebration that marks the beginning of the hunting season in the Northern Hemisphere. As a part of that we have some tips to help you have more success with dove and teal hunting. 36 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM ON THE WINGS OF A DOVE There s something magical about getting out in the field for the first time of the year. Dove hunts bring back memories. It could be of family members who used to join in the fun but are now gone. Maybe it was teaching your son or daughter how to lead a bird. Or it could be of surreal days when for some unknown reason you couldn t miss For most wing shooters it s been a long hot summer and the opening of dove season begins a period of hunting that can last through the spring. Dove hunting can be frustrating. The aerodynamic challenge of hitting a dove in flight with some shotgun pellets is like trying to hit a bottle rocket in flight with a stream of water from a garden hose. It can be done but it takes some serious skill. With the help of a light tailwind this small bird can typically fly by a hapless hunter at a speed of 50 to 60 miles per hour. To the casual observer it appears that doves revel in mid-air acrobatics which are designed to frustrate and ultimately defeat all but the most skillful and mentally tough hunter. Did we mention that these small bodies can streak through the autumn sky at a mind-boggling rate They re so fast and so agile in flight that the ammunition companies estimate the average hunter harvested an abysmal 3 birds for every box of shells. One of the best parts of dove hunting is the ambiance of the sport. Dove hunting is very much a social event and this means part of the fun is getting out with a bunch of buddies and swapping lies. However no matter what anybody says taking home more doves is much more fun than missing every one that flies by. HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO COME HOME WITH MORE DOVES. 1 PLAN THE HUNT AND HUNT THE PLAN Most people grab their shotgun shells and gear throw them in a vehicle and head out to the hunting lease or property the day before a hunt. The next morning they get up early and get in the field and start waiting for the skies to open with thousands of doves all eager to be shot and all flying directly into range. Unfortunately most hunters are disappointed on the first day of a hunt because there was no reconnaissance before hitting the field. This is a mistake. Let s face it most people hate to plan it sounds like work. However a dove hunt can be more productive and more fun with some preparation. The easiest but no less important task before opening day is to get over to the skeet shooting range and get used to swinging your shotgun. Even practicing with one box of shells can result in eye-to-hand coordination improvement and make a big difference on the first few doves that come into range. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 37 Another important preparation tactic involves getting the lay of the land. Scouting the fields for doves before the hunt will pay enormous dividends when you come back with your shotgun. Use binoculars to find where pockets of birds are feeding. Look for birds in trees and telephone wires. Watch the flight patterns of birds from feeding field to water. This can enable a hunter to place himself between the feeding field and water. Especially in the early season doves are known to take recurring flight patterns down fence rows and tree lines. With proper recon the hunting party can be placed at strategic positions that ensure getting a steady stream of doves. 2 CHOOSE THE RIGHT GUN AND SHELLS FOR YOU Contrary to some self-proclaimed experts there is really no right or wrong shotgun for hunting doves. Some really great marksmen can get their daily limit with a 410 shotgun. However most hunters find the small pattern of a 410 requires superior marksmanship and they prefer the wider pattern of a 20 or 12-gauge shotgun. When selecting a dove-hunting shotgun a good all-around choice is a 20 or 12-gauge autoloader with screw-in choke tubes. Pumps double-barrels and over-and-under s work fine but because doves are fast and difficult to hit many hunters prefer autoloaders which allow three quick shots before a bird gets out of range. It is important to remember that repeating shotguns must be limited to holding only three shells ( plugged ) while dove hunting. This federal regulation also applies to pump action shotguns. A 20 gauge gun is lighter to carry and has a little less power than the heavier 12 gauge and after 4 or 5 hours in the sun the weight of a gun becomes a serious consideration. The 20 has less recoil or kick than a 12 gauge but the larger gun allows the hunter to reach out a little farther to knock down a high-flyer. 38 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Some parents start kids out using a single shot 410 because it is lighter and the single shot is a safety consideration. However as noted above the 410 can be frustrating to a young hunter because the tight shot pattern is not very forgiving and requires more skill than say a 20 gauge would. A smaller youthsized 20 gauge gun is a better bet for kids. With more women interested in upland bird hunting there are several shotguns which are lighter to carry and swing that are made specifically for females. Spending some time talking with the experts at the gun store or retail stores such as Cabela s Bass Pro Shop or Academy Sports about shotguns which work best for a specific strength is time well-spent. As for shells the best advice for dove hunting is to stick to smaller shot sizes 7 8 or 9. It takes only a few small pellets to down a dove and smaller shot sizes offer more pellets per charge. For instance an ounce of No. 8 shot has 186 more pellets than an ounce of No. 6. One Texas hunting guide opines that the best all-round shot shell is a 1- or 1- 1 8 ounce load of 7 s 8s or 9s. Heavier loads allow somewhat longer shots but you may go through several boxes of shot shells during a single hunt. Your accuracy could suffer if you start flinching due to a sore shoulder. 3 HIDE AND WATCH Where a hunter chooses to position herself or himself in the field has a big impact on his success in getting birds. It s critical to find a spot that allows for some cover. Doves have incredible eyesight and from way up there they have a great view of any guys with shotguns in their hands. Every veteran hunter has stories about times when a group of doves were flying directly toward the area where he was stationed in a direct path for a perfect shot and for no apparent reason at the last second the birds veer off and go out of range. Even though the frustrated wing shooter might think he hears the sound of doves laughing as they dart away doves can t laugh. However they might giggle...just a little. This last second change in flight path suggests that the doves saw the hunter recognized the imminent danger and changed direction to avoid it. When a hunter dresses in clothing that blends in with the natural surroundings perhaps camo or maybe just drab colors and makes a point to position himself under a tree or around high grain stalks the odds of doves changing paths are reduced. Having a camo billed cap or drab hat that covers the naturally shiny forehead also helps the shooter to avoid detection from the oncoming birds. A dove hunter can also improve odds when his position takes advantage of the dove feeding patterns. Doves tend to have breakfast at daybreak so if a hunter hopes to take advantage of a sleepy-eyed doves he needs to be in place between the birds roosting areas and feeding field. Typically doves will feed and then beat a path to water and after this they tend to nap during the heat of the day. A well-hidden hunter who has positioned himself between feeding field water source and the trees where the doves roost will realize more success. As for the evening hunt guides note that doves tend to eat their evening meal as late as possible. As light begins to dim or clouds move in about an hour or two before sunset the doves start moving to water. A good hunting intercept position for this time is the underbrush around the water source. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 39 40 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 4 THE BEST SHOOTING TECHNIQUE FOR DOVES Out in the field on the first day even veteran upland bird hunters forget about good technique. Good ones correct this after about 5 or 6 misses but a hunter who hasn t held a shotgun in about 9 months is likely to miss most of his her early shots unless proper technique is used. The most important concept to remember for shooting doves is to point and not aim the shotgun. There is a circular pattern of shot coming out the end of the gun and any one of those little pellets can bring down a dove. Many opportunities to shoot a dove will be crossing shots where a dove flies from left to right or vice versa. In this scenario the odds of hitting this little bottle rocket are dramatically improved when the hunter uses the water hose shooting method. The objective is to think of the shotgun as a water hose and to spray the bird with shot. A simple method of leading a dove involves lining up the crossing bird with the sight of the gun then starting the shotgun swing from behind the bird swinging through the tail and then the head. When a little daylight can be seen the trigger can be pulled while continuing to swing past the bird along his trajectory. It s important to keep eyes on the bird during this process and continue to focus as he falls. When the hunter is property camouflaged and covered by bushes or trees doves will also fly directly into blind where the hunter is waiting. The best strategy for these straight on shots is to wait until the absolute last second to shoulder the gun and when the bird is within 20 yards take the first shot. Be prepared to take the second shot if this first shot misses and the dove veers dramatically left or right. If the first shot misses there is a moment of confusion when there is a good opportunity to make that second shot. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 41 5 STAY MOBILE AND LISTEN CAREFULLY As noted above doves have distinct flight patterns. By watching them over the course of a hunt or preferably before the hunt starts hunters can position themselves to intercept the birds and get a better shot. This can only happen if the hunter remains mobile. If the birds are moving down a fence row or tree line out of range it s time to move over to where they flying (when possible). With multiple hunters in a party this might be difficult however the hunter who watches the flight pattern and adjusts accordingly will bring back more birds than someone who sets up under a nice shady tree and never leaves this spot. Hunters who know what to listen for can also improve their kill ratio. Doves in flight make a distinct sound. The sound of a dove in flight is a highpitched whistle or squeaking sound. The mourning doves rapidly beating feathers also create a soft whistle when they are in flight. It may take a few times but eventually a wise hunter will recognize that sound of doves flying and will be prepared to see one or more doves come out of nowhere. Many times a group of doves will approach a hunter from his backside with very little advance warning except for that very distinctive dove squeak. When they come into view usually over the backside of the camo tree or bush a going-away shot is possible. 42 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM OUT STANDING IN A FIELD Nothing compares to an opening day of dove season. The smell of gunpowder the rush of adrenaline when a tough shot is made and camaraderie of friends all make this an outstanding sport. If you re lucky enough to go hunting this year stay hydrated follow these tips and have a great hunt. DOVE HUNT CHECKLIST The number one rule of dove hunting is that you can never have too much gear or too many shotguns In the rush to get the latest gear and guns you can sometimes forget the basics. Here s a checklist to print out and make sure you don t forget things like (1) A valid hunting license with a migratory bird stamp It s amazing how many people forget to get a new license. Game wardens however never forget to ask for one when they stop hunters for a friendly chat about the weather. (2) A favorite shotgun or two Pick one that you re prepared to lug around for several hours in the sun and (if possible) bring a backup that can be used if the primary gun malfunctions or you happen to accidentally smash it against a tree when you miss the 15th straight crossing shot. (3) Appropriate shotgun shells In most cases for dove hunting this will be number 8 shot with 7 a second choice. Be sure to bring enough for you and your hunting party. The ammo companies estimate 3 birds are shot for every box of 25 shells. Do the math and don t run out of shells just when a hundred doves are flying into your area. (4) Camouflage or drab-colored clothing Even though that torn sleeveless white Lynyrd Skynrd t-shirt makes your muscles look bigger doves can see a white or bright color from a mile away. Wear something that helps you blend into the natural setting and wear a hat or gimme cap to cover that shiny receding hairline and forehead. (5) Sunscreen Skin cancer is not macho and early September can be brutal. (6) Insect repellent Look for something with DEET and something that repels mosquitoes chiggers and ticks. Put this stuff on your clothes and on directly on your skin. There have been many cases of West Nile Fever and Lyme disease. Don t tempt fate. Put on some repellant. (7) A light-weight game vest or belt with big pockets In the heat of shotgunning it s nice to have a quick place to store the downed birds... so you can keep on shooting. (8) Water bottle Did we mention the heat could be brutal. Try and get a bottle that will fit in your game vest. (9) An ice chest with lots of ice for the birds and beverages (10) A set of large re-sealable plastic bags to store birds in the ice chest (11) A shotgun cleaning kit (11) Game sheers or a good knife to field dress the birds (12) A light-weight hunting stool for when you re waiting for the birds to flyby If you have all of these items you re good to go. Oh wait. Don t forget the dog. She s been waiting for dove season since winter WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 43 https www.youtube.com watch v NTaCaNpkXbQ photo courtesy of www.zackbirgefishing.com EARLY BLUE WING TEAL In a season that typically runs from mid-September through the end of the month early bird hunters of blue winged teal get a shot at this feisty gamebird. Like doves they fly fast and furious. And like doves they get smarter as the season progresses. 44 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Blue-winged Teal are long distance migrants with some birds heading all the way to South America for the winter. Therefore they take off early on spring and fall migration leaving their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada well before other species in the fall. The experts at Ducks Unlimited note The ultimate cue for waterfowl migration throughout their lifecycle is day length but early migrants are prompted to move when weather and habitat conditions change. Biologists at DU note that after that first dip in temperatures in a state such as South Dakota many of the blue-winged teal that nested or were hatched amid that sea of grass and wetlands south toward the Gulf of Mexico or to points even further south. Another cold snap will bring spur the migration of pintails wood ducks gadwall and widgeon. WHERE TO FIND THEM It s a long trip from the Dakotas to the Louisiana and Texas and the fat reserves of these migrants are severely depleted by the time they arrive at their winter destination. Hunters who take this into consideration will have more luck finding early season teal. The experts at Ducks Unlimited note that early season migrants search out food resources like natural seeds smart weed and millet. Teal will also move in to shallow flooded agricultural fields looking for waste grain second-crop rice moist-soil seeds and certainly some invertebrates. Gadwall widgeon and pintails are going to be more in the open water looking for submergent food sources more so than teal in the shallows. Immediately after arriving in the Gulf States Louisiana Mississippi and Texas during mid-August the teal try and regain those calories by chowing down on the rice found shallow water. However when the shotguns begin going off in mid-September the teal (wisely) decide to move on out of harm s way. They head to fresh-water marshes to rest during the day and this is where the smart hunter should be waiting for them. DECOYS AND CALLS Duck hunting guides recommend putting out 1 or 2 dozen decoys to attract these speedy birds. In the early season they typically use only hen dekes to take advantage of the similarity of the teal plumage. More and more guides in Louisiana and Texas are using motorized decoys to get the motion that seems to fascinate teal. These motorized decoys seem to be more effective in the early fall than later on in the winter. This is likely due to the fact that the ducks wise up as the year continues. As with everything associated with duck hunting there are specialized calls for teal. The sound tends to be higher more like a whistle. However old-school guides think they can bring in just as many early season teal with a single-reed mallard call. The call is less important than the skill of the caller. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 45 GETTING YOUR SHO AND YOURSELF READY With bird season here it time to get your gun and yourself ready. If you re like most people you haven t picked up that gun since you cleaned it after your last duck hunt or spring turkey hunt. Hopefully you gave it as good scrubbing and oiling before putting it back in its offseason storage place. If you re a lazy slug and didn t clean it well after your last hunt you definitely need to get some cleaning and lubricating done before getting out in the field on in the duck blind. After this chore is completed you might also consider getting those eyes and hands back into hunting shape too. Here s how you can get your gun and yourself ready to rock and roll on opening day. 46 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM OTGUN Y TO ROCK HOW TO CLEAN THAT NASTY GUN Most of us (yours truly...especially) are hard on guns. As a result I ve always used a simple pump action 12 and 20 gauge shotgun for bird hunting. If you ve seen that YouTube video where the two guys purposefully try and clog a shotgun by tossing it in a mud hole and slapping more mud on top you have some idea of how tough we can be on guns. In one year my poor Remington 870 was (1) dropped in a muddy stock tank during dove season (2) dragged by its sling through a corn field during pheasant season by a less than obedient but fun-loving dog and (3) covered with mud and water from walking waist-deep in a rice field during a goose hunt. As you can see I m not worthy of an expensive well-crafted shotgun. I d just ruin it. However after every hunt I get out my well-worn ancient cleaning stuff my scrubbing spray and clean out the barrels and working parts and oil em up. I ve used that 870 every year for the past 20 years and it s still the best shotgun I ve ever fired. Plus it is practically indestructible. Even by me If you are lucky enough to have a cool shotgun such as a Benelli auto-loader or even a workhorse like my 870 try to keep it out of the mud and muck and clean it every time you bring it home from a hunt. Here are some suggestions. First off remember what your daddy or granddaddy told you many years ago assume the gun is loaded...every time your pick it up. This is especially true when you re about to clean it. Every year hundreds of people are killed or blinded by shotguns that were supposed to be unloaded. Before you start the cleaning double and triple check that the gun is empty. FOR A PUMP-ACTION SHOTGUN Point the muzzle away and keep fingers off the trigger Press the bolt release (usually in front of or behind the trigger guard). Cycle the pump action. Repeat until no shells are visible in the magazine tube or in the chamber. Be double-sure your firearm is unloaded. You do not want an unexpected boom while cleaning your firearm. FOR AN AUTO-LOADING SHOTGUN Be sure you always handle your firearm safely. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction treat the firearm as if it were loaded and keep your finger off the trigger. Pull the bolt-grip back and release it. Repeat until no shells are visible in the magazine tube or in the chamber. Keep your ammunition separate from your shotgun while cleaning. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 47 CLEANING AND OILING Cleaning a pump-action shotgun doesn t need to be a lengthy process. As long as undue amounts of sand or dirt has not gotten into the action the shotgun should function reliably. If you need to do a more extensive cleaning or are using an auto-loading shotgun this is the process No stripping is needed opening and closing the bolt as required is sufficient. If the gun is extremely dirty don t gamble on having a ruined hunt take it to a gunsmith and have it professionally cleaned and oiled. Wipe down all components using some paper towel (or cloth but this is less important to be lint-free). Remove as much of the thick caked-on carbon buildup created by the friction of use. Also wipe off any old oil and all unburnt powder buildup. Be sure to wipe the ejector and the area around the chamber. You will find certain areas turn the paper towel black (clean these areas more). Spray solvent (preferably designed to be safe to continually contact your skin like M-Pro 7) on all possibly dirty components. A liberal amount of solvent is better than not enough. Let the solvent sit for a couple minutes. Make sure any area with dirt carbon buildup or unburnt powder has a healthy amount of solvent on it soaking in. Scrub the whole gun with a brush (no metal bristles -- like a toothbrush). This works in the solvent and loosens up the buildup on the gun. Try to get into all the nooks and crannies. Wipe the gun clean with lint-free cloth (you can buy pre-cut cloth but a clean old shirt or socks also work). Get everywhere you put the solvent (should be pretty much everywhere) and wipe it until it wipes clean. 48 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Wipe down the whole gun (inside and out) with a solvent-soaked lint-free cloth again and look again for any areas turning the cloth dark and clean it. Use the pick to get off any thick chunks of carbon or powder buildup or buildup in tight parts of the gun. The most common area with carbon deposits is in the chamber. Buildup occurs in the corners of the pieces of metal. Swab the barrel with a cloth soaked with solvent. Repeat with clean cloths (still soaked in solvent) until a cloth comes out clean. Then swab it with an oil-soaked cloth this coat of oil will protect your barrel from oxidation (rusting). A quick-and-dirty method for a less precise cleaning would be just to run a bore snake through the barrel. Oil all the components requiring lubrication. Often the manual for the gun will have specific areas needing oil but a quick look at where the gun is wearing will give you a good indication of the needs. Be sure to oil the rails for the bolt and the bolt itself. Try to keep oil away from the openings into the firing pin housing (oil is a collector of dirt and powder buildup and buildup around your firing pin can prevent it from firing). Wipe down the whole gun and remove any excess oil. GETTING YOURSELF READY Consider the typical situation of opening day of bird season. Unless you independently wealthy you have to work for a living and those precious hunting trips are few and far between. Most likely you ve planned this trip since mid-summer. You ve gotten all of your gear guns and ammo in the truck and on opening day you find yourself out in a dove field waiting for the first flock to coming cruising in - ready to meet their maker. As the sun rises the first doves of the season are seen coming your way. You remember to keep you head down and tell yourself to wait until you see the white of their little dove eyes before you swing your shotgun and take the shot. All goes as planned until you take the first second and third shots and miss with all three. Very likely this scenario will be repeated for about the first or even second hour of the hunt. WHY You ve probably not picked up a shotgun for several months (see making a living above) and your shotgunmounting mechanical skills not to mention your eye-to-hand skills are not even close to where they need to be in order to hit a tiny bird flying by at about 50 miles per hour There s only one way to avoid this waste of ammo. Get back into hunting shape by hitting the sporting clays range a couple of times a week. This practice can be greatly enhanced when you bring along a buddy to help you determine whether you are shooting ahead or behind the targets. If you re lucky enough to have a shooting instructor at the range having him her watch your mechanics and follow-through and give you some advice can also pay big dividends on opening day. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 49 JULIE MCQUEEN AND DANIEL THIS ARTICLE IS SPONSORED BY AN OUTDOOR SPORTS WORK TOGETHER AN Here s a mantra outdoor sports fanatics can live by hunt fish sing repeat Those are words the husband and wife team of Daniel Lee Martin and Julie McQueen live by in their work and play. They are the producers and hosts of the popular outdoor sports show Brotherhood Outdoors on the Sportsman Channel but that s just a small portion of the way they spend their time. 50 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM LEE MARTIN They are the driving forces behind Backroads Productions and have devoted their lives to creating cutting edge television programming on national networks. For 13 seasons they produced award-winning outdoor TV shows and remain completely immersed in all those details. Recently Julie and Daniel dropped by the Outpost for a visit. The Outpost Julie let s do ladies first. You re a former model who actually taught yourself how to hunt. You have a degree in psychology and a pilot s license. How did you get interested in hunting and fishing in the first place Julie Yeah I like to do extreme things in life. I m all about adventure and fun and keeping things fresh and trying new things. When I got to the age where I was old enough to go figure out what I wanted to do I took myself hunting. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time and ever since then it s been my passion in life. Did you have a parent or somebody to give you some direction or you just kind of go out there and say That looks like a quail. POWER COUPLE WHO ND PLAY TOGETHER [laughter] Well my parents are military so they met in the army so I grew up around guns and firearms. I knew how to clean a gun before I knew how to do anything else. And anyone from a military family would know how that feels. No I didn t have any parents or any older person to take me hunting. I did it the good old fashioned way I went to a bookstore and I got some magazines and books and I read all of the things I thought I needed to know about WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 51 how to go hunting. And then I borrowed a gun and then I borrowed some property and I took myself whitetail hunting for the first time. I actually harvested my first animal that way. I shot a really nice 12-point buck when he walked by and then I had no idea what to do next Daniel among other things you are an established country music singer. What made you want to get into producing and hosting outdoor sports programs Daniel Well it was actually all just being at the right place at the right time to be honest. I was eyeball deep in music and we had just finished up recording our second album On My Way to You. I remember I was doing a lot of charity celebrity events and a lot of them that had to do with major league baseball. Our record label is called Chin Music Records which is funded by major league baseball players for the most part. I was at a golf tournament and I actually got paired with a group that one of the guys was one of the founders of Sportsman Channel. Talk about right place right time huh 52 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Wow. Serendipity strikes again. I m telling you And we hit it off and he was really interested in my music. Then I think we were about two months into the relationship and I was in my tree stand one day down here in Tennessee and it was 3 00 in the afternoon and I remember I had this brainstorm idea for a TV show. I started to put the pilot and script together on my phone and ended up leaving the woods early because I really felt like it was a really neat opportunity. I sent it to him and they loved it and our first show Backstage & Backroads started airing in 2007. We did a cross-promotion with music and obviously the show Backstage & Backroads is all about two huge passions of mine and that s music and the outdoors. So it was funny that s how I got into the whole television side. I ve always been on the graphics side computer graphics and things like that. So the transition over to video production seemed pretty easy. It s just been a whirlwind. Our production company has taken off in the last year and a half in a big way and so we re just trying to keep up right now. Yeah I like to do extreme things in life. I m all about adventure and fun and keeping things fresh and trying new things. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 53 54 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Our production company doesn t just produce and host the current show Brotherhood Outdoors. We actually produced a lot of other stuff on the side which is really fun for us because that means we get to spend pretty much every single day in the field getting our hands dirty filming not just for our show but for other shows and projects and commercials. Here in the next probably six months or so there s going to be a barrage of things coming out that are really fun for us. It ll be big announcements that right now we can t really talk much about it yet. Will you continue doing the Brotherhood show or is that going to go away No I hope not. We absolutely love everything about this show and being involved in it. Who wouldn t love first off getting to spend time in the outdoors Second getting to spend time with a deserving person a union member a hard-working guy who has never had the opportunity to go do a hunt like we do every single day for the most part. That has been a rewarding and just such a blessing to us to be able to be a part of the show and I certainly hope that we re able to keep doing it. And we ve watched it grow. It s kind of been our baby over the years. We ve nurtured it and grown with it and we ve seen some pretty incredible stories come out of it success stories and we ve made friends. And I think that s really what it s all about in this industry anyway. You guys are married as are several couples in the outdoor TV sports business. I always wonder is it difficult or fun working with a spouse Julie It s not difficult if you really like each other [laughter]. Yeah I would say that s the main thing. We really like each other. We spend every single day together whether it s in the field or the studio. We re behind the cameras in front of the cameras. We own our company together. And even in our offices in our editing suites where our business takes place... we ve had a wall that s been taken out between them so we can share one huge office. So even there we don t get personal space. To some people it would be horrific they wouldn t survive a week. But we seem to do pretty well with it. Do you do anything different to keep a relationship positive I mean you literally are working together every day hours on hours. Is there something that you do to make that relationship still sweet or is it just a function of you guys liking each other Daniel It s a mix of both. We do take moments for each other. There s times when we ll be out in the backcountry for weeks at a time with no communication with anyone other than us and our crew and whoever we re out there with and I think you form a bond in those ways. When you spend that much time around a person and you get through things and work through things. But then we have our good moments where we ll stop in the middle of a production and just look at each other and go Holy moly can you believe we get to do this for a living This is fantastic And we might dance and celebrate and-- every day for us we work hard at it but it s not that difficult when you just really like each other. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 55 Julie And I think the other main thing for me anyways - you have to respect the other person a lot. He has strengths that pick up where I have weaknesses and vice versa. So here in the production company which is doing really well these days I know what I m really good at and I know what he s really good at and so if you keep those boundaries and let the other person grow on their own a little bit it s pretty easy. Daniel Yeah I think with any marriage the compromise is one of the strongest words. It s compromise. Then when you spend every single moment together that s not fabricated. It s every single moment of our lives basically is spent together and we-- compromise and compassion - I get that she needs her girl time occasionally. She s on the road with me for three and a half weeks. When she gets back I encourage her to take a day off and go do some fun stuff. Julie But the other thing too is we have so much in common it s scary. Just our likes and our dislikes and food likes and dislikes and whatever we just have a lot in common and that really does help. We have the same goal in life with our personal life first and foremost and then with our job which isn t really even a job I can t even call it that. It s just a hobby [laughter]. I read somewhere that in addition to being outdoor sportsmen and women you guys are interested in physical fitness. It s almost time for all of those who have been sitting around watching TV baseball games and drinking beer to get out and pursue some wild game. So what advice can you give somebody who needs to get ready to get out and climb up those deer stands and do those western hunts 56 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Julie It is something we re interested in because it helps our lifestyle to stay really fit. We try to focus on it and we ve been doing that for a long time before it was really a fad or a fitness craze in our industry. I was writing fitness blogs and articles quite a few years ago when everything thought I was crazy. And now everybody s kind of on that same bandwagon and they see what I meant by staying fit year round keeps you from panicking when you re doing a high-altitude hunt and you can t catch your breath. I actually just wrote a series of articles for the Mule Deer Foundation for western hunting and getting in shape before the hunt and then during the hunt little tips for when you are in those high altitudes or in the backcountry and you need to focus on the hunt instead of not being able to gasp for air. As far as tips it s those little tiny things that make up a big picture. You got to get some cardiovascular exercise at least a few times a week year round not just before hunting season. Daniel And another part of our life too one of our new partners Mountain Hops is a big part of it too. It s really helped us in a lot of different ways. I haven t been in the past a big supplement kind of guy. When I m trying to lose weight and get healthy I usually just eat a little bit better than I normally do and then work out. But we definitely include that in our everyday lives and it really does help. It helps a lot. We encourage everybody to start three months out. You should be practicing with your bow and doing some different types of physical activity and that doesn t necessarily mean just going to the gym. Go out to the woods and walk. Put a heavy backpack on and put yourself in that situation. It s WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 57 58 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM I get that she needs her girl time occasionally. She s on the road with me for three and a half weeks. When she gets back I encourage her to take a day off and go do some fun stuff. just necessary for what we do because for the most part Jules and I are also carrying camera gear when we re in the woods whether we re hunting or not. A lot of that stuff you re talking 50 pounds on your back of camera gear and it s just such a necessary evil [chuckles]. Well for me because I d rather watch baseball games and drink beer Fans of outdoor TV should keep on the lookout for the next program produced by Julie McQueen and Daniel Lee Martin. This couple has the talent brains and sense of humor to stay at the top of the game. If you would like to hear the complete interview with Julie McQueen and Daniel Lee Martin Photo by The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Click here http theoutpostlife.com pod_popup1585.html for The Outpost ON DEMAND. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 59 THEY DON T UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT S NOT JUST GOING HUNTING FOR A LIVING. IT S A BIG BUSINESS BEHIND THE SCENES HERE S HOW TO FIND YOUR DREAM JOB HUNTING What is your dream job For a lot of outdoor enthusiasts a dream job would entail hunting and fishing and yes getting paid for it. If that describes you keep reading. Brenda Potts and Alli Armstrong have written a new book entitled Hunting Dream Jobs and it s a how-to guide on finding gainful employment in the outdoor sports industry. The book is packed with tips on how a hunter or angler can turn their avocation into a real live vocation. Why did these two authors decide to write this guide We ve heard so many people young people especially talk to my husband Stanley (Potts) and myself said Brenda Potts. Stanley has been in the industry and is a fairly well known as a hunter television show host and a guest speaker. After the events are finished people come up and talk to him and everywhere he goes we hear people say You have my dream job. How do I get a job like what you have How do I get a job hunting for a living 60 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM We just kept hearing that and there s no short answer to that question. You can t just say well do this this this and this and you ll have it. Because it s taken Stanley and I 40 years to get our dream jobs. So we decided to write the book so when someone asks the question I can say Buy the book [chuckles]. The Outpost Alli you re did the research on this book and worked with Brenda to put it together. What are the most popular dream jobs in the outdoor sports industry Alli Armstrong They all just kind of vary throughout the whole industry because there s so many different parts that make up the industry as a whole. There are the stores the television writing and everything. It seemed like we had several writers which was great and I love to write so that was a great opportunity for me to learn from those writers that have already made their way into the industry. How about you Brenda What did you hear are some of the more popular dream jobs Brenda Potts I think a lot of them see the television shows. There are three or four networks now all completely devoted to outdoor hunting fishing shows. They see that and think Oh that s those people s jobs. I want to do that too. They re going hunting for a living. I want to do that. However what they don t understand is that it s not just going hunting for a living. It s a big business behind the scenes trying to put on a television show. Everything that needs to be done you need to be a good business manager you need to be a good people person you need to be a sales person. There s so much more to it than just getting to go hunting. So Alli how does somebody get started in hunting their dream job From what I ve gathered from most of the people that we ve interviewed they just started out kind of smaller in the industry and worked their way up. A lot of them didn t even start out with any job that even involved the hunting industry. But they decided along the way that this is what they wanted to do. So they got good strong contacts in the hunting industry and just worked their way up to where they want to be. And some still want to go farther. ALLI ARMSTRONG Alli is absolutely right about the contacts. It s like any other industry. It s networking networking networking. It s who you know and starting out small and working your way up. Just like it is with any job. Where d you get the info for this book I know you did tons of interviews. Brenda you have lots of personal experience with you and your husband being in the media for all these many years so is that where you got the information for the Hunting Dream Jobs Yes. We just started calling our friends and asking them if they would be willing to be interviewed for this book and the reason why we were writing a book. They all understood and said Oh that s a great idea because that s one of the number one questions we get too. We could have put 200 interviews in this book we ve only just had to cut it off so it was only about an inch thick [chuckles] but everyone was wonderful. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 61 62 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM BRENDA POTTS Does anybody stand out among all these people that you interviewed for this book as having the best insight or one of the better insights about getting employed in the hunting business I really like the people whose messages were like what Ralph Cianciarulo (bow hunter) said To stay true to yourself and don t try to be someone else that you re not. The same thing with Brenda Valentine (TV personality) saying Don t clone yourself. Just be yourself and go after your passion. Now that was repeated by almost everybody. There was a time ladies when outdoor sports jobs were pretty much male-dominated. That s not the case anymore is it No and people don t realize that there are a lot of jobs that you don t see on television. For instance someone might be the marketing manager and their job is to set the ad budget and do all the office work but they may also need to go out and entertain outdoor writers at a specific one-week hunt. So they get to hunt too but you don t ever see them. They re not a big celebrity. There are lots of jobs that are just regular jobs-- you have a 9-5 job-- but part of your duties are also going hunting. So those were some of the people we wanted to talk to behind the scenes instead of the big names like Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo Mark and Terry Drury. How did you organize this book It must have been a daunting task. It was. It took us over a year to do it. We started out at the Shot Show just talking to our friends who were there personally telling them that s the idea and asking them in person if they d be willing to participate in the book. And then I provided Alli with their contact information and she made arrangements to call them up and interview them or to get their written answers on the phone. Alli did the hard part [chuckles]. I just compiled all the work that she did. Well that s a big job Alli. It s a labor of love though I m sure right Oh yes. I loved every minute of it. I talked to some of my biggest heroes [chuckles] after watching them as I was growing up. It was great to get their advice and hear what they had to say. If you think you d like to make a living in the outdoor sports industry you might want to pick up a copy of Hunting Dream Jobs written by Brenda Potts and Alli Armstrong. It s available at your favorite bookstore or click here http www.amazon.com Hunting-Dream-Jobs-Brenda-Potts dp 0988327228 to buy it from amazon.com. If you would like to hear the complete interview with Brenda and Alli just click here http theoutpostlife.com pod_popup1586.html for The Outpost ON DEMAND. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 63 NRA ANNOUNCES 2015 WOMEN S AWARD RECIPIENTS The National Rifle Association has selected the recipients of its 2015 Women s Awards recognizing exceptional accomplishments in the preservation of the Second Amendment and the shooting sports through education advocacy and volunteerism. Receiving the 2015 Sybil Ludington Women s Freedom Award is Carolyn Meadows of Marietta Georgia. First awarded in 1995 and named for a heroine of the American Revolution the award recognizes women who have demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to preserving the Second Amendment on a national stage and advancing the goals of the NRA through volunteerism and legislative activism. Carolyn an active member of the NRA Board of Directors since 2003 is an experienced political leader whose effective lobbying of Congress and Georgia legislators has been felt both locally and nationally. A passionate shooter and hunter Carolyn also volunteers her time to arrange gun safety courses for children and adults including the Annual Jet Williams Law Enforcement Shootout and the Lockheed-Martin Gun Club. The 2015 Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award named after the first woman president of the National Rifle Association goes to Linda Gilbertson of Concho Arizona. Created in 2004 the award is presented to women who like Hammer exemplify activism and influence many in their fight to preserve Second Amendment freedoms. Linda a former Oregon State Police Officer and United States Treasury Department Special Agent has volunteered countless hours as an NRA Certified Instructor to help women become comfortable and confident with firearms. Along with her husband Linda co-hosts The Gun Locker a weekly radio show that explores firearm safety training cleaning shooting and more. Linda s passion for firearms has also led her to co-found several gun clubs and work as a pistol instructor at the NRA Women s Wilderness Escape Carolyn Meadows and Linda Gilbertson are two remarkable women who have helped so many people discover the fun of safe firearm ownership and usage said Executive Director of NRA General Operations Kyle Weaver. We are so grateful for their contributions to the Second Amendment and the lasting impact of their volunteerism will be felt for generations to come. 64 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM MISS AN THEY RE WAITING FOR YOU AT ISSUE THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 10 THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 10 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 65 https www.youtube.com watch v mEqZ_Dk_ HOW TO CLEAN A DOVE The opening of Dove Season is upon us. On the following page you will find recipes for this delicasy. But before you get them to the grill you have to clean them. Senior editor of The Outpost Magazine Art Young shows you a quick and simple way to get these delicious birds from the field to the grill in just minutes Let us know what you think. Give us your feeback by emailing us at Art theoutpostmagazine.com 66 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 67 THE OUTPOST RECIPES LOVE FOR DOVE 68 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM LITTLE DAVE S SMOTHERED DOVES INGREDIENTS stick butter plus 3 tbs. cup flour 2 cups Chicken broth 1 cup sliced mushrooms salt and pepper to taste Cook rice. Brown Doves in stick of butter in a heavy skillet. Place Doves in a baking dish. Make gravy from the remainder of butter flour and Chicken broth salt and pepper to taste. Pour over in baking dish and bake approximately 1 hour. Add mushrooms for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Serve over cooked rice. HAWAIIAN DOVE INGREDIENTS Dove sliced pineapples jalapeno peppers thick sliced bacon pepper garlic powder optional toothpicks PREPARATION Pluck Doves and use game shears to split up the back. Place one inch or so of pineapple in body cavity with one half jalapeno pepper. Wrap bacon around Dove and secure with a toothpick sprinkle with garlic powder then pepper. Cook on Sikes Cooker or broil indoors. Cook until bacon is crisp and Doves are dark brown. Turn at least once to cook each side. Cooking time is about 20 to 30 minutes total. Figure three Doves per person. GLENN S FAVORITE DOVE S INGREDIENTS 8 Doves cleaned and left whole 1 pint oysters drained 1 2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1 4 teaspoon salt 1 8 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 4 tablespoons butter melted 8 strips bacon PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oysters breadcrumbs salt pepper Worcestershire sauce and butter mixing well. Place each dove on its back and stuff with oyster mixture. Wrap a strip of bacon around each bird secure with a toothpick. Back 20 to 30 minutes. Remove toothpick and serve. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 69 THE OUTPOST RECIPES BLACKENED REDFISH https www.youtube.com watch v OfDcutMsOsA INGREDIENTS One and a half pounds redfish filets Paul Prudhomme s Blackening Spice (or your favorite blackening seasoning) 4 Tablespoons vegetable oil divided 4 Tablespoons butter divided Prepare the Egg to indirect at 400 with the cast iron half moon griddle in place. Season the fish liberally on both sides with the blackening spice. Pour half of the oil on the cast iron grate and add half of the butter. When the butter is melted add half of the fish. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until browned well. Flip and cook 1 to 2 more minutes until done. Repeat with the remaining oil butter and fish. When done transfer to a platter to serve. Makes 4 servings 70 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM ING COMBO AYS A WINN ALW PARTIES & Made with 100% Real Cheese AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RESTAURANT STYLE 1.00 COUPON CLICK HERE www.gordoscheesedip.com VEC TORB U T TON S. COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 71 R ST G EA U TP O Girls With Guns Duck Jacket For only 199.99 your GWG Duck Jacket is not only functional but fashionable. Get yours at www.gwgclothing.com O Just in time for Waterfowl Season 100% waterproof breathable Featuring Primaloft Silver insulation Hidden hand warmer pockets Adjustable waist hood and cuffs Handy cargo pockets with internal shell loops Neoprene cuffs to keep jacket dry Fitted elbow and shoulder sections for greater range of motion Field tested - Designed by women for women Sizes XS - 2X 72 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM O U O TP ST G EA R AspectSolar Has New Line of Portable Solar Products in Mossy Oak Camo AspectSolar a leading manufacturer of solar panel technology and portable power solutions has partnered with Mossy Oak to offer innovative portable power solutions designed to fit the specific needs of outdoor enthusiasts. AspectSolar products feature best-inclass solar panel technology and a proprietary Advanced Battery Management System (BMS) that optimizes battery performance. All of this is housed in products that are up to 40-60% lighter than the competition and engineered to outperform in every category. For 2015 the AspectSolar Mossy Oak product line includes the innovative EnergyBar 100. This lightweight and environmentally friendly battery with LifePO4 technology has up to 3-5 times the life of traditional batteries and will keep your laptop charged for up to 5 hours and will charge your mobile device up to 15 times. Also for 2015 look for the DUOFlex2 Pro a powerful compact kit featuring advanced solar panel technology with a 13 Watt panel and a robust portable 10 000mAh battery that will charge your smartphone up to 7.5 times or a tablet 1.2 times. AspectSolar is the technology leader in dependable lightweight portable solar power solutions. The company s best-of-class solar energy products enable users the freedom to easily capture and store solar power as usable electricity in remote areas or where traditional power is disrupted. With multiple patents for its award-winning products AspectSolar s panels and high-efficiency green technology batteries are backed by the best guarantee in the industry. To learn more visit www.aspectsolar.com WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 73 R ST G EA TP O U 74 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Just in Time for Bird Season Tenzing Introduces TZ BZ15 Upland Birding Vest It s time for a better upland bird vest. Tenzing made it two years ago in the form of the TZ BV13 Upland Bird Vest. Now they ve made it even better. The all-new Tenzing TZ BV15 Upland Bird Vest is the next evolution in Tenzing performance for the upland hunter. The one-of-kind TZ BV15 Upland Vest takes all the features upland hunters want in a vest and combines them with the functionality of a pack to provide the ultimate bird-hunting accessory. O Like all Tenzing packs the TZ BV15 is a dream to wear courtesy of its thick air-cooled back pad and fully adjustable padded shoulder and waist belt straps. Two sizes are offered to ensure a proper fit on almost any hunter. The shell of the new TZ BV15 is constructed out of ultra-strong 100% cotton Ripstop fabric which is extremely durable and will not pick up any burrs an improvement over the TZ BV13. Shoulder straps waist belt and other high stress areas are reinforced with Dyneema a fiber with a tensile strength stronger than steel but light enough to float on water. The vest is finished in an attractive olive green color with the added security of a hunter orange pullover for safety while afield. The mesh game pocket of the TZ BV15 has also been improved offering larger side openings for easier access and a new coating on the mesh material to make it more durable stain resistant and burr free. In addition to the game pocket the Tenzing TZ BV15 provides upland game hunters with approximately 2000 cubic inches of storage for gloves radios collar accessories choke tubes ammunition and more inside a total of 13 pockets and compartments. Shells remain at-the-ready individually cradled in 14 shot shell loops. KEY FEATURES Burr-free Dyneema-reinforced 100% cotton Ripstop construction M L and XL XXL sizes to fit most hunters O ScentBlocker is Also Dead Quiet U O TP ST G EA R WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 75 ScentBlocker has announced the introduction of Dead Quiet in Mossy Oak Break-Up CountryTM. The newest scent control jacket and pant incorporates the best technology finest features and latest fabric that ScentBlocker has to offer. Building on the feedback of bowhunters from around the country the new Dead Quiet is based on their number one request - silence. Dead Quiet started with the development of a brand new composite fabric exhibiting the perfect weight and ability to stay silent in nearly all conditions. It uses a high denier microfiber brushed tricot outer layer that is wet printed to maintain the soft characteristics of the fiber. This outer layer is treated with a highly water repellent DWR finish and then combined with a plush inner layer of microfiber fleece. And incorporated between the layers of this ultimate fabric system is Trinity technology the heart and soul of ScentBlocker s scent control program. This outfit is loaded with hunter-friendly features. The mid-weight jacket offers a new hood design which can be easily compressed and tucked away in the collar yet is stretchable and cut to allow for great peripheral vision. Other features include an adjustable and removable arm-guard perfect size pockets in the right places Spider Speed Clips and harness slit for Tree Spider safety compatibility hybrid BodyLock waist and of course the ultimate in soft quiet fabric. The Dead Quiet pants are equipped with an internal rubberized waistband which keeps shirts tucked in and pants up. Side elastic waistband provides comfortable fit without a belt but also offers belt loops and tunnels. Both cargo pockets feature side entry zippers as well as top flap for easy access to gear. Pants include 20 leg zippers for easy on off over footwear diamond crotch gusset for maximum mobility and comfort and silent rubberized snaps throughout. For more information visit www.RobinsonOutdoors.com or www.openseasons.com LL FA ZY EN FR 76 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM EVERY TRAIL CONNECTS VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE AT REI AND HELP IT RAISE FUNDS For many in America trails are the gateway to the outdoors. Outdoor sports retailer REI is inviting its 5.5 million members and the outdoor community to connect with the nation s network of trails. The co-op is calling on hikers runners cyclists and anyone who loves the outdoors to actively take part and help to fund 10 inspiring trails by voting on www.REI.com trails Every Trail Connects marks the first time that REI is engaging its community to decide how to share 500 000 with 10 passionate nonprofit partners. Each vote (one per day per person) will invest 5 in a selected trail. The investment is part of 5.9 million that REI is granting in 2015 to more than 300 nonprofits working to create access to more than 1 000 outdoor places throughout the United States. REI has spent decades supporting outdoor nonprofits and has invested nearly 60 million in programs that help people connect to the outdoors. TEN GREAT TRAILS ARE WAITING FOR YOUR VOTE At REI we believe that trails are nature s playground. They connect us to one another and to something larger than ourselves said Jerry Stritzke REI president and CEO. These natural treasures are often underfunded so we are asking the outdoor community to join us in celebrating our dedicated nonprofit partners and help us build improve and enhance these 10 great trails for generations to come. Each vote will help fund impactful work at the following trails through partnerships with supporting nonprofit organizations California The Backbone Trail (national park) The Santa Monica Mountains Fund will repair retaining walls damaged from past storms and renovate the trailhead to improve access. California Coast to Crest Trail The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy will connect one of the last remaining gaps on the 70-mile trail and construct two new trailheads. California Coon Creek to Bear River Trail System The Placer Land Trust will help build 20 miles of new trail just north of Auburn. Colorado Mount Columbia Summit Trail The Colorado Fourteeners will kick-off a four-year trail construction project in 2016 to build new and reconstruct existing trail to the summit beginning at 11 700 feet. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 77 78 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM TEXAS Violet Crown Trail The Hill Country Conservancy will construct the next seven miles of the new 30-mile trail system connecting urban life to outdoor spaces. WASHINGTON The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the Washington Trails Association will re-route a section of the trail to restore access to the upper reaches of the Middle Fork Valley following repeated flooding. To create additional opportunities to engage with trails REI stores are partnering with nonprofits to host or promote volunteer events for National Public Lands Day on September 26 including on each of the 10 featured trails. Throughout the year REI Outdoor School the national leader in outdoor education offers classes for a variety of outdoor activities. Leading up to this fall many REI Outdoor School classes will focus on trail-specific offerings from run clubs to hiking-based programs that highlight local trails. Outdoor lovers can learn more about the co-op s efforts to give back to its communities at www.REI.com stewardship and can share photos and inspiration on Instagram or Twitter using everytrailconnects. GEORGIA Cumberland Island Trail Network (national park) The Georgia Conservancy will clean clear and re-route the backcountry trail system improve kayak access create the first-ever backcountry trails map and install signage at the trailheads. MASSACHUSETTS Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway The Appalachian Mountain Club will construct a bridge and parking lot in the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest as well as a boardwalk and improved signage in Concord and at Walden Pond and will install drainages and a bridge in Borderland State Park in North Easton. MINNESOTA Superior Hiking Trail The Superior Hiking Trail Association will construct the final six-mile segment of the trail and build several loops in the city of Duluth to improve access to outdoor recreation. New York The Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain (national park) The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference will rehabilitate and relocate a portion of the trail on the slopes of Bear Mountain and restore a half mile stretch of trail to the summit. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 79 ELDER NASH By O Neill Williams I wish you could have seen us an attentive little boy with big ears and a stately old gentleman in a dark suit. What a team we made I called him Granddaddy and he simply referred to me as Son and always with a smile. To everyone else he was Elder Nash. More about that in a moment. My father was a pilot in the Army Air Corps and died in a plane crash when I was six weeks old. When my mother remarried (I was 3 years old) I not only got a fine man and war hero to be my father I got a built-in fishing partner and Granddaddy. We fished for catfish and bass in the small farm ponds in Walton Rockdale and Gwinnett Counties in Georgia. Using worms chicken livers dough balls just anything gathered up that might work we generally made a formidable duo. The light line zipped from the little spinning reels we used slinging the baits as far into the ponds as we could and then when the rods were mounted on forked sticks along the bank we manned quite an arsenal. What I remember most about him was his gentleness never and I mean never raising his voice or declaring anything sterner than an occasional Gee Whiz when a sneaky little catfish stole his bait. But what a sight he was Get this picture black wing-tip shoes highly polished dark charcoal grey pin-striped suit starched white shirt and striped tie white gloves with the fingers cut out all topped off with an expansive straw hat. He just did not like the sun. I was dressed in baggy jeans with 6 inch cuffs rolled up a red white a blue t-shirt and an Atlanta Cracker s baseball cap. I was a fan of the Crackers and would one day play a series of high school championship games at the old Ponce de Leon Park. 80 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM Some days we spent together on those ponds were quite productive. Seventy-five or more nice cats fell to our tactics. The pond owners always liked having Elder Nash visit. I guess it was a bit of payoff for his preaching to the congregations for free all those years. We didn t catch anything big you see but that didn t matter. He was 60 and I was 11. He was attentive to me and I was to him. And the Elder Nash part Well Henry Nash was an unpaid preacher to several Primitive Baptist Congregations both in Atlanta and the various county churches. My father mother and little brother that had come along when I was seven attended about once a month in the picturesque locations. Names like Harris Springs Loganville Big Haynes Creek and others come to mind. After the early morning service we had dinner on the grounds long tables covered with white cloths all spread out with delicacies. Some of the best food I have ever had came from those Christian women. It was usually warm and bright in my memory Dogwoods dotted the forest with white delight and I knew Elder Nash and I would be fishing soon. We spent dozens of fresh spring and warm summer days together each being a treasured memory. From him I learned patience and the positive effect of soft words. More than anything though I remember his quiet reserve and his love for all things. I wish I could see him again. I ll bet we could still catch em O WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 81 82 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 83 The Once and Future SteelDrivers Both Have New Records When lead singer songwriter Chris Stapleton left the seminal bluegrass band The SteelDrivers most of the experts in the music business shook their heads and quietly wrote off the band while expressing doubts about the solo career of Stapleton. When a group loses such a unique voice it is almost impossible to replace the sound and the music gurus also had doubts about how Stapleton would sound without his former bandmates. As it turned out the experts misjudged the talent and audience-loyalty of both entities. The SteelDrivers found another great lead singer and a passel of new songs Chris Stapleton did what he s always done writing and singing amazing songs and both groups are flourishing with new albums that are stunning. As one critic opined Maybe it s all for the best. We still get the Steeldrivers doing what they do best and we get entire albums of Chris Stapleton. It s a great time to be a serious music fan. Anyone who would like proof that Stapleton and The SteelDrivers are stronger than they ve ever been before should just has to listen to a couple of songs on these two new records THE MUSCLE SHOALS RECORDINGS FROM THE STEELDRIVERS TRAVELLER BY CHRIS STAPLETON 84 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM https www.youtube.com watch v H-IOLc5emC4 The Muscle Shoals Recordings The SteelDrivers Hammer Home a Great Record Located just outside of the northern Alabama community of Florence Muscle Shoals is legendary for being the home of studios that have produced rhythm & blues rock & roll and sweet soul music. One of those studios The NuttHouse Recording Studio is owned by musician and man-with-a-golden-ear Jimmy Nutt. In 2000 Nutt with his wife and son moved from Louisiana to Muscle Shoals where he honed his recording skills at FAME studios and finally made the jump to create and run The NuttHouse a renovated former bank complete with steel vault. Nutt s client list runs the gambit from musical artists Jason Isbell The Ugly Stick Sons of Roswell The Fiddleworms Shelley King Lenny LeBlanc and now The SteelDrivers. As a magazine piece noted His studio is just plain cool and it still has the steel vault and teller window for atmosphere. Nutt produces and engineers using digital and analogue and no doubt pushes Pro Tools to the max. It s no coincidence that the new lead singer and writer for the Drivers Gary Nichols is a native of Muscle Shoals and was no doubt eager to take advantage of the ambiance and sound of the NuttHouse. His lifelong friend Jason Isbell (who s having a pretty good year himself) decided to join Gary and The SteelDrivers for a couple of song on the album. When a musician or group is coming home often makes leads to a sound that is from the good ol days from whenever those good ol day were from. However The Muscle Shoals Records is far from vintage. This band is at it contemporary peak. As one critic noted Though The Muscle Shoals Recordings may sound like something historic as in from the vault it is fully from this moment. This is the fourth SteelDrivers studio album made up of all-new material mostly original and recorded in Muscle Shoals at the legendary NuttHouse Recording Studio. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 85 The group continues its rich musical progression conjuring music drenched in soul blues bluegrass R&B country and rock n roll. Fiddle-player songwriter and singer Tammy Rogers aptly describes the realness rawness and edge in the band s sound. With Nichols having written nearly half of the new songs and Rogers most of the balance this is the SteelDrivers most fully realized album to date and another spectacular step forward. The tunes on this album are all about musicianship at its best soul-stirring harmonies and soulful renditions of completely original material. It is the fourth and many think the best SteelDrivers album ever released. If you re looking for smooth flawlessly produced adult contemporary bluegrass this is not the record you want to download. However if you like a little (or lot of) grit in your songs The Muscle Shoals Recordings will completely quench that thirst. 86 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM The outstanding songs on this collection starts with the first cut It s a Long Way Down. This song the words production lead voice and arrangement is spooky good. It suggests the dark and dangerous part of the musical genre that bluegrass fans crave. If you ve ever read any stories by Tennessee backwoods hillbilly savant William Gay and thought they were brilliant you ll wear the track out playing it. Other great cuts include Drinkin Alone (killer harmonies and a hint of mayhem in the story) Ashes of Yesterday (heart-break in time) California Chainsaw (on this one the bands shows it can pick your eyes out) and River Runs Red (the saddest damn song you will ever hear). It may be a clich but there are no bad cuts on this album. If you love true-grit bluegrass stories and tunes told and played by a group of men and women who are at the top of their musical game you will love The Muscle Shoals Recording from The SteelDrivers. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 87 Traveller Chris Stapleton Goes it Alone and Nails It The first thing anyone notices about singer songwriter Chris Stapleton is that voice. It s been described as a similar to Greg Allman if Greg had come from the Kentucky coal mines. His vocal abilities have also been compared to Jamey Johnson and Stugil Simpson. Stapleton can hit low notes and high notes over more octaves than any mere human should be able to do. His voice is absolutely unique in its technical proficiency but the genius involves his ability to use this God-given talent to express emotions that are universal. The part many fans DON T know about Chris Stapleton is that he really is a singer SONGWRITER. Before and during his stint as the lead singer for the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers Stapleton had a career s worth of writing credits. He had four number one songs including the 5-week number one Never Wanted Nothing More recorded by Kenny Chesney Loves Gonna Make It Alright recorded by George Strait and Come Back Song recorded by Darius Rucker. As a writer over 150 of Stapleton s songs have appeared on albums by such artists as Adele Luke Bryan Tim McGraw Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley. And he has several notable co-writers including Vice Gill Peter Frampton and Sheryl Crow. On his first solo effort Stapleton plays to his strength lyric-driven ballads. Some music critics have said the album could have used some more up-tempo rock-inspired tunes. For example the review in Amazon notes There s very little cheer on this album. Most of it is dealing with harsh realities of heartbreak loss pain and regret. Sure it may have its more positive moments interspersed here and there but this is not an album that s going to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. You can agree or disagree but the fact is Stapleton has crafted a brilliant album and nobody disagrees with this. 88 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM https www.youtube.com watch v _kBnFgLP8po He wrote or co-wrote twelve of the album s fourteen tracks but even the covers such as Tennessee Whiskey (not an easy song to sing) sound like he could have penned it. Another track on the album Whiskey and You which Jason Eady recorded on last year s Daylight Dark is one of the better track of the collection. When the Stars Come Out has been gotten many downloads and it is one of the few more positive-attitude songs on the record where Stapleton sings of experiencing a memorable night in L.A. when the stars come out and shine and burn so bright they drown the downtown lights. However for our money the outstanding song on the album is vintage Chris Stapleton both from a writing and singing standpoint. Nobody to Blame but Me is about knowing when and why you screwed up feeling bad about it but knowing it s too late to change it. As a story it doesn t get much more universal than this. It has one of the great country-inspired lyrics of all time I knew right Where I went wrong Chris Stapleton is out touring to sold-out venues playing songs from this album. Because the songs are so good and he is so talented the word-of-mouth will be excellent for this young performer. Expect this album to be one of the big-sellers for 2015 and for Chris Stapleton to be a hot ticket for many years to come. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 89 90 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM photo Travis Wade THAT S GONNA MAKE A LOTTA BOOTS AND HANDBAGS ALABAMA HUNTERS HARVEST A 900-POUND GATOR ON OPENING DAY It was surreal Scott Evans one of the hunters said. We weren t expecting anything that big. Alabama s Lake Eufaula was the site of the capture of a massive 900-pound alligator on opening day of alligator season in that state. Evans was accompanied by his friend Jeff Gregg Gregg s son Justin and their guide. Their alligator believed to be about 60 years old measured an impressive 13 feet and six inches which will likely qualify the animal as the largest alligator ever harvested from Lake Eufaula. According to reports in AL.com the gator also came close to the state and world record which currently belongs to a 1 011.5-pound animal harvested by the Stokes family last year from Alabama s Mill Creek. Part of the mass of the Stokes family s harvest (more than 100 pounds) consisted of a deer in the alligator s stomach which it had been slowly digesting. A taxidermist for the family discovered the anomaly during preparation for a full-body mount. That did not disqualify the creature from obtaining the world record however. Master measurers from Safari Club International certified the Stokes gator as the largest in the world last August. In that case the size of the alligator s skull was also taken into consideration. The alligator caught by Scott Evans and his friends may not be the biggest in the world but it does firmly take second place in Alabama. The previous record alligator harvested in the state belonged to Keith Fancher who took an 838-pound animal in 2011. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 91 IF YOU LIKE GATOR HUNTING YOU LL GET A THRILL FROM THIS VIDEO. https www.youtube.com watch t 12&v FQph0oCLYjs 92 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM HAVE YOU MISSED ANY ISSUES OF They re all waiting for you at our website WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM GO AHEAD. CAST A LINE AND REEL THEM IN WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 93 Editor s Note Like it or not we have become a very litigious society. This continues even when we re out in the wilderness relaxing. We re proud to begin a new feature which we hope will make you think and save you some grief and money. These columns while not intended to replace the advice of a lawyer are written by an avid outdoorsman who just happens to be a very smart lawyer - Randy Hall. A SERPENT CAME CALLING By Randy Hall - Attorney at Law Great-Grandma Drain whom we referred to as GG lived in a three room cabin nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. She owed 40 acres of deep woods. Bear turkey deer black panthers and mountain lions had been killed on her land. It was steep hateful timber land that was straight up behind and straight down below. There were caves that ran deep in the mountain where she kept vegetables she grew and fruit from her trees. Her cabin was seventy-five feet off a washed out red dirt road that looped the mountain ridge. Her closest neighbors lived more than a mile away in both directions. I don t think GG s road ever saw a grader. Her cabin was sided with vertically placed saw mill logs that had long since turned grey from the weather and lack of paint. The nails that secured those boards had long since rusted. Some were backing their way out. We saved our newspapers for GG. She soaked the pages in water and applied them to the interior walls of her cabin. The layers of newsprint provided insulation from the winter winds. Every interior wall in her cabin was covered with years of smoke stained yellowed newsprint. The front porch of that cabin is where life occurred. There were five wooden steps leading to the porch landing that was easily six feet above the plush downhill yard that spanned below. The rails of GG s rocking chair had worn ruts into the wooden porch deck from years of use. The remaining porch seating was provided by a worn out couch and two tree trunk sections. A hog-wire fence nailed to hand cut wooden posts encircled her yard. Looking to the east or below the cabin one had a bird s eye view of the yard and a rock path that led to the spring-fed pond below the house. To the north a path of large flat rocks led to a sagging gate and to the main road. To the south an outhouse stood with deep woods behind it. GG was mostly Cherokee Indian which was apparent from her looks and mannerisms. Her hands were calloused and rough. Her face was thick and wrinkled from her labor under the sun. Her underbite exposed the good teeth she still had. Her hair was always braided and nearly drug the floor when it was not in a bun atop of head. 94 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM CONTACT RANDY HALL VIA EMAIL AT RHALLLAW GMAIL.COM IF YOU HAVE LEGAL QUESTIONS RELATING TO OUTDOOR SPORTS AND WOULD LIKE FOR RANDY TO ANSWER THEM IN FUTURE COLUMNS EMAIL HIM AT THIS ADDRESS. She carried water in a wooden pail from the spring fed pond until the day she died at 104. She chopped the wood that heated her cabin and cooked her food. With an axe. Her house always smelled like burnt wood in both summer and winter. There was no indoor plumbing. Life was simple to GG. She lived off her land and grew or killed what she consumed including the tobacco she smoked from her corn cob pipe. GG had a reputation for speaking of life just as it was. She had little use for city folk or city life. A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER INTERRUPTED Some forty years ago I visited GG at her cabin. It was a stingy hot August day void of any breeze. Five overall clad men all relatives of some lineage sat on the front porch with GG talking and passing the time of day. Some smoked others chewed. These were country boys with tanned forearms the size of most men s biceps. The shade of the porch provided the only relief from the hot August sun. Women were busy in the house preparing some kind of meal from the meat GG had cured and vegetables she had grown. The women s conversations and occasional outbursts of laughter were audible from the front porch no need to eavesdrop or strain to hear them. Both the back and front doors were open in hopes of capturing some breeze that might decide to blow. Several young children played homemade games like hide and seek tag and the like in the yard. I was too old for the yard games and too young to be with the adults. Two toddlers both still in cloth diapers wondered the yard with what are now referred to as free range chickens . Hanging from the fence by the road was perhaps the largest timber rattler I had ever seen...dead or alive. That snake s head was as big as my hand (or so I remember). It had a body to match. GG had killed the snake that morning before her guests arrived and hung it on the fence. It had been laying in the grass cracks of the stone pathway in prey of some unsuspecting rodent. She did not kill the snake to claim a trophy but to signal a warning sign to other snakes. It was her belief that the hanging snake served to ward off other snakes. After all it was the dog days of summer. GG myself and other family members sat on the porch that hot afternoon. Occasionally someone would drink from the same ladle that hung from the wooden pale of cool spring water that traditionally sat on the porch. I am yet to find water that tastes as pure as GG s spring water and to my knowledge I never got an infection or disease from sharing that ladle with countless numbers of people. Visitors were rare. On this August day the impending approach of a vehicle interrupted the conversation. Everyone watched the road from the shade of the porch anticipating the identity of the visitor. GG few on words announced stranger. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 95 Once the green state-owned vehicle came into view we all knew it was owned by the game warden Ralph Wallace. Ralph was well known as the county officer for as long as I could remember and would often stop for a chat and drink of water. However the driver was not Ralph. It was a young man seemingly barely older than me. He flashed a hand waiving as he passed by the truck soon disappearing beyond the view from the corner of the cabin. But it stopped. From the sounds everyone knew that the truck went violently into reverse stopping in front of the snake in a cloud of road dust. I saw him struggling for something in his truck which I came to learn was his ticket book. The young warden emerged from his truck swatting the dust away. WHO KILLED THAT SNAKE He strutted to the front porch like a man on a mission the children abruptly ceased their play to gawk at the stranger. No one on the porch moved an inch or offered any greeting. After all he was an aggressive stranger. Had he only followed simple rules of courtesy the outcome might have been different. The cadence of GG rocking in her chair provided the only relief from the stiff silence. The young warden followed the same stone path where GG s snake had laid prey and approached the first porch step. He looked up in silence to survey the group who in turn curiously stared down at him. Who killed that snake the stranger asked with emergent authority and a hint of judgement. Not a soul muttered a word. In what seemed like a child s eternity mine GG finally took another puff from her pipe and declared I did 96 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM She exhaled a thick gray cloud of smoke across the porch. The smoke creeped off the porch in the humid air and began to settle in the young man s face. Disgusted he swatted at the air in front of his face. By this time even I knew he was a city boy. What s your name he asked with a mild cough that followed and which was obviously designed to show his disapproval for GG s smoking. Never quick to speak GG said Ethel Drain. Her country dialect drew her words out like it was a ten syllable word. He was quick to respond. Well Ms. Drain I am going to write you a citation he declared. Killing rattlesnakes is against the law. The young man drew his ticket book from his back pocket and began filling out his paperwork as we all sat and watched in silence. I had never seen anyone get a ticket. I was close enough to see the blood rush from his knuckles as he pushed hard on the three part ticket. GG continued to rock in silence and take long drags from her pipe as the young man sweating from the August heat lectured her on state law protected species and his predictions about the large fine she would receive for what he acted like was a capitol offense. He continued to preach about his tiring of country people who refused to observe hunting seasons and the lessons he would teach them to respect the law. No one muttered a word during his sermon which seemed to go on forever. I knew something was going to happen. I just didn t know what. I was right. GG finally interrupted. Young feller yer uh wastin yer paper and pen she said. I could now see the sweat that the August heat had produced on both his shirt and brow. He was standing in the sun we were in the shade. The young warden with disdain looked up from his pad. He dropped his law enforcement sunglasses to expose his eyes. I don t know if what I saw was intimidation outright fear or disbelief on his face. What did you say He defiantly asked with all the authority of the law that his sidearm badge and baby face could muster. More silence from GG followed. GG took another drag from her pipe and spoke words that I recall to this day. Are you stupid or sumthin Don t you see them babies GG was pointing her bony finger and referring to her diaper clad great grandchildren who stood dirty faced at a safe distance staring up at the young man. I still remember the purple veins standing up on the back of her tanned hands as she pointed to the children. I ain t got no way to town. If that rattler had bit one of them babies they be dead afore I could get em in the house. Fact is they be dead in no time at all. Aint got no phone. You go ahead and write yer paper. But I be tellin ya a thang or two here and now. Where they s one they s another. I be killin the next un I see too. She settled back in her rocker and then added And I ain t never ate one that tasted a damn thang like chicken. COUNTRY JUSTICE The young warden turned red faced and launched into a litany of violations fines penalties and numerical citations to the law. I m not sure he took a breath during the entire tirade. It was truly a Barney Fife moment. The lecture continued with repeated verbal accusations and the repeated single one question do you understand me Ms. Drain to which he never received a vindicating response. GG with disinterest continued to rock and smoke in silence. She had spoken her mind with authority like she usually did. I and even the adult men waited patiently for GG to respond. It was her cabin and in country logic her dispute. Finally GG dropped the corn cob from her mouth and responded Get off my damn land. She didn t raise her voice and she didn t flinch. But she said it with more authority than the young warden had ever possessed in his life. And everyone and in retrospect including the young warden knew she meant it. Country folks have no reason to get sideways with anyone who don t draw first blood. He stood there staring like he was possessed. We all knew even me that he was contemplating his next move. WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 97 What did you say he finally asked. His shirt was nearly soaked with sweat by this time. GG using the inertia of the rocker to rise from the chair rose and walked to the edge of the porch and again ordered I ain t sayin it agin. Get off my damn land. Simultaneously five men uncles and cousins adorned in shirtless overalls silently rose in support of GG. They walked to the edge of the porch but did not dare get in front of GG. It was obvious even to me what was about to happen if he did not leave. The young man obviously intimidated ripped the ticket from his book slammed it on the porch deck and half ran to his truck declaring the entire way that he would be back with more officers. He hurriedly sped off in a cloud of dust spraying gravel everywhere. To my knowledge he never returned. And to my knowledge GG never paid that fine. Matter of fact when I left that evening I think I saw that ticket blowing across the yard. Forty years later I suspect that he called Ralph Wallace for support and discovered that he was wrong. In my home state Arkansas is it illegal to kill any snake unless the animal poses reasonable threat or endangerment to persons or property. In every state except Texas similar laws protect snakes. However even in Texas it is illegal to take transport have in your possession or sell timber rattlesnakes. Many times I have said the only good snake is a dead snake . Perhaps my overzealous hatred and uninformed fear if you will for these animals comes from the account of the Garden of Eden taken from the sky blue Bible Story Book that I was read to as a child. The painted portrait of Eve beside the tree of knowledge with the cunning serpent speaking to her still brings me pause when I see it. I am guilty of the same indictment I pose here. I have killed many rattlesnakes copperheads and cottonmouths for no other reason than to claim my trophy or because of fear that could have been abated had I simply left the animal alone. Be that as it may these animals are listed as endangered in nearly every state of the union. Their disappearance is mainly attributed to progress construction and population growth. The fact of the matter is that they are an important link in the chain of life. They prey on rodents toads frogs crayfish minnows other snakes rabbits squirrels and other small wildlife. And they provide food for hawks owls foxes bobcats raccoons and other species. Likewise they are beautiful creatures and are certain to create the ultimate outdoor rush if you see one in the wild. Don t spoil it for our kids. There is simply no reason to kill every snake you see in the outdoors unless you are like GG and afraid for one of your babies. Let s preserve it. Don t hesitate to email me with your legal questions and cases at randy littlerocktriallawyers.com Happy Hunting and Fishing. CONTACT RANDY HALL VIA EMAIL AT RHALLLAW GMAIL.COM IF YOU HAVE LEGAL QUESTIONS RELATING TO OUTDOOR SPORTS AND WOULD LIKE FOR RANDY TO ANSWER THEM IN FUTURE COLUMNS EMAIL HIM AT THIS ADDRESS. 98 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM photo credit Kyle Stapleton Franklin OH THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 30 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 99 PHOTO OF THE MONTH 100 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM THE NEW OUTPOST RADIO IS LAUNCHED Radio for the Great Outdoors The Outpost Radio. At any given time on this unique station you can hear Stevie Ray Vaughan followed by Blackberry Smoke followed by George Jones. While all of this is going on you can be given a chance to listen to podcasts that feature tips on hunting whitetail deer or catching crappie in the Atchafalaya Basin or learning why blue quail would rather run than fly. In the words of more than one recently converted Outpost Radio fanatic I ve never heard anything like this station. Exactly. This combination of music and outdoor sports information presented 24 7 available wherever you are worldwide on your mobile device has never been offered. Until now. If you can do without the little girl pop stars and auto-tuned crap that passes for country and rock and roll these days you might want to try The Outpost Radio. If you want to know the weather wherever you re sitting in a duck blind it s here. If you re on the way to hunt pheasant or fish for walleye and you d like to know if anybody s seeing any this might be your new favorite radio station. The stories in The Outpost Magazine are about the simple joys of living an authentic life. This includes outdoor sports such as fishing hunting camping hiking and biking. It involves good food and strong drink and it also includes music from every genre that sportsmen and sportswomen enjoy. Unfortunately most of the music you hear on traditional (terrestrial) radio is so sanitized analyzed and peroxized that the tunes and words are cotton candy for the brain. Plus most of the outdoor sports radio programs come on the stations between 3 and 4 am. That s a little too early for most of us. It s is for this reason that we joined some friends who are experts in the radio business and launched The Outpost Radio. We re calling it Radio for the great outdoors and that s more than just a catchy phrase. A typical radio station would never play the diversity of songs you ll hear on WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 101 102 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 103 THE OTHER FALL TRADITION For 39 years we have been keeping the Bird Hunting tradition alive by producing lasting memories at the Plantation. Explosive coveys outstanding dog work and up-scale accommodations are available just one hour east of Atlanta. Season runs Oct. 1- March 31 Come just once and you will be a customer for life www.burntpine.com 1161 Blackwell Rd Newborn GA 30056 (706) 557-0407 104 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM What one has not experienced one will never understand in print. Isadora Duncan P.O. Box 983 Reitz 9810 Free State Province South Africa Matt 27(0) 72 540 0057 Jacklyne 27(0) 82 091 5903 Fax 27(0) 86 538 3660 info likhulusafaris.com likhulusafaris live.co.za www.likhulusafaris.com WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 105 WWW.GEORGIAALLIGATORHUNTING.COM (229) 251-9929 106 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM MICHIGAN U.P. GROUSE HUNTS & FISHING TRIPS These action-packed hunting & fishing trips are conducted in the game rich Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan at our Cast & Blast Lodge. We hunt on over a million acres of premier grouse habitat - recognized by many as the top grouse hunting destination in North America Both grouse and woodcock are plentiful in the surrounding aspen-filled forests. Fishing takes place on Lake Superior and Lake Gogebic the largest inland lake in Michigan. Lake Gogebic encompasses 13 380 acres with 38 miles of beautiful shoreline and boasts more state angler awards than any other lake in the Upper Peninsula. Species on Lake Gogebic include Northern Pike Walleye Perch and Smallmouth Bass. On Lake Superior the prized Lake Trout is the most abundant species and will be the primary species we will pursue. Coho Salmon is the next most abundant Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Chinook Salmon and Lake Herring are occasionally caught. CAST AND BLAST GROUSE HUNT AND FISHING PACKAGE 1750 per person (parties of 4 or more only 1500 per person). 5 full days of hunting and fishing - your choice. Hunters are welcome to bring their dogs with them or hire a guide. Upgrade to a fully guided trip for an additional 1000.00 per Group (includes dog handler trained pointers and fishing guide). MICHIGAN COMBO FISHING PACKAGE 1575 per person (parties of 4 or more only 1250 per person). 4 full days of semi-guided fishing on Lake Gogebic and then 1 day on a Lake Superior Charter Boat chasing Lake Trout and Salmon. Trip can be upgraded to fully guided for 200 per day INCLUDED IN ALL TRIPS Lodging in our resort which consists of 7 completely furnished cabins overlooking Lake Gogebic. All trips start with check in on Saturday afternoon and end with checkout on Friday morning. Each day starts with a continental breakfast a lunch at the lodge and a home style dinner each evening. 17 Crestliner Boats equipped with 90 HP motors. The closest airport is Duluth MN (2 hours from the camp). Corporate groups and family reunions welcome we can accommodate up to 30 people. Additional Activities o 4 public golf courses are located within a 30-45 minute drive from the resort o The Lac Vieux Desert Resort Casino is located in Watersmeet MI approxiately 40 miles from the resort HTTP CASTANDBLASTLODGES.COM PHONE (724)290-9338 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 107 WWW.GUNDOGBROKER.COM 108 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM KAPRIVER OUTFITTERS PETER AND TERRY MARTIN 10 Erie Street Kapuskasing Ontario P5N 2C6 705-335-3163 Peter Martin pwmartin ontera.net Kapriver Retrievers & Outfitters specializing in winter Timberwolf hunts Waterfowl & Bear Combo hunts as well as excellent Grouse Hunts over pointing dogs. We also train and sell started retrievers and pointing dogs. http www.kapriveroutfitters.ca index.html WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 109 THE BACK WOODS Do you have a funny hunting or fishing picture Do you have a joke that everyone should hear Email 110 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM them to art theoutpostmagazine.com WIN FREE HUNTS AND GEAR 30 off first purchase of 100 at www.OpenSeasons.com 10% off most products at www.OpenSeasons.com Qualified to win FREE Hunts and Gear 12 months of The Outpost Magazine An Oupost Hat An Outpost Sticker JOIN TODAY CLICK HERE FOR JUST 29.95 YOU GET MORE THAN 100 WORTH OF FREE STUFF WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM 111 112 WWW.THEOUTPOSTLIFE.COM